Six people, including four children, were injured in an Israeli drone attack on a polio vaccination site in the war-torn Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Saturday.
The WHO announced on Friday that it would begin the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign in part of the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday. The campaign had been postponed from Oct 23 due to intense bombardment and mass evacuation orders as well as a lack of assured, comprehensive humanitarian pauses.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA and the WHO, the attack took place at the Sheikh Radwan Health Center in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip and was carried out by a small Israeli military drone, but the Israeli military has denied it.
Health center officials said the drone attack sparked widespread panic among residents, significantly impacting vaccination efforts.
"At first, there were many parents bringing their children to the health center, and the vaccination went on smoothly. However, at around 14:00, Israeli drones suddenly launched an attack near the clinic, which caused people to panic and flee the area. This also affected the number of people who came today because they were scared about such attacks. We feel that the number of people bringing their children to get vaccinated has decreased significantly," said Raghib Abu Leila, director of Sheikh Radwan Health Center.
Although the WHO has reported that there have been at least 164 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 7th last year, residents in the area were still surprised and dismayed by the latest bombardment.
"No place is safe now, fear is everywhere. I came here with my children. Frankly, I am very scared. We are very shocked by the airstrike on Sheikh Radwan Health Center," said resident Zakaria Abed.
Four children injured in Israeli attacks on vaccination site in Gaza
Four children injured in Israeli attacks on vaccination site in Gaza
Four children injured in Israeli attacks on vaccination site in Gaza
China is experiencing a surge in outdoor and sporting activities which serve as a powerful catalyst for consumption and economic growth.
In Baoding City, north China's Hebei Province, residents are flocking to a local sports center for their fitness fix. Activities such as tug-of-war, balance bike racing, and pickleball are igniting public enthusiasm for sports.
"Pickleball is such a vibrant and enjoyable sport. It allows us not only to experience the joy of sports but also to appreciate the power of teamwork. I hope there will be more events like this in the future so that pickleball can gain wider popularity in Baoding," said Guo Yingqiu, a pickleball enthusiast.
While sports focus on physical activities, they also help boost the local economy. Streets surrounding the sports center were packed with vendors selling products like table tennis rackets and snacks.
Chinese cities have also benefited from hosting sporting events. Over the past month, China hosted several international competitions, including the 2024 China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. Ticket sales exceeded 80 million yuan (over 11.3 million U.S. dollars), reflecting a 60 percent increase from the previous year.
This year's tournament also attracted more sponsorships. The 2024 Wuhan Open saw a rise in viewership and revenue, driven by an influx of out-of-town visitors. Of the 180,000 spectators, more than 44 percent traveled to Wuhan for the tournament, contributing significantly to the local economy, particularly in the food and hospitality sectors.
"Sports events are a powerful tool for fostering new types of consumption and expanding existing markets. Moving forward, we aim to develop the sports event economy by creating an ecosystem that unleashes the sector's potential and cultivates a sustainable consumer market," said Chen Jie, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports.
Latest reports indicate that bookings for outdoor sports in the first half of this year surged by nearly 60 percent. With the winter sports season approaching, China anticipates further growth in the sports sector nationwide.
Rise of fitness events in China to fuel economic growth
