A total of 441,647 children, representing 69 percent of the child population in the Gaza Strip, have received the first dose of polio vaccine as of Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Sunday.
The vaccinated children are mainly from central and southern Gaza.
To ensure that the campaign covers more children in the strip, the health ministry has extended the four-day phase II vaccination, starting from Sept. 5, for another day.
The health ministry also announced that from Monday, the third phase of vaccinations will take place in the central-northern and northern areas of the Gaza Strip. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that approximately 150,000 children will receive the polio vaccine in the third phase.
The polio vaccination campaign in the Gaza Strip aims to vaccinate about 640000 children, with each child, from newly born to 10 years old, receiving two doses. It has been divided into three stages, starting from Sept. 1 in the central, southern, and northern regions of Gaza.
The administration of the second vaccine dose is expected to commence in four weeks.
The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of achieving a vaccination coverage rate of at least 90 percent to prevent the spread of the disease within and beyond the Gaza Strip.
Nearly 70 pct children in Gaza receive first dose of polio vaccine
Nearly 70 pct children in Gaza receive first dose of polio vaccine
Nearly 70 pct children in Gaza receive first dose of polio vaccine
Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.
In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.
Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.
In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.
"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.
"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.
"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.
Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.
The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.
Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai
