Polio Resurgence and Humanitarian Struggles in Gaza

The Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York on 4 September 2024 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. Edem Wosornu, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division at OCHA, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation. In her remarks to the Security Council, she said, “The suffering and devastation show that there has been almost no limit to the inhumanity unfolding before our eyes.” Wosornu also highlighted the relentless efforts of humanitarian workers to contain the spread of polio within the enclave, following the detection of the first case in 25 years in August 2024. This resurgence poses a significant risk, and the UN is trying to prevent further outbreaks amidst the already dire conditions.