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Parents in Gaza have lamented the UN's decision to suspend polio vaccinations for young children in the enclave but said it pales in comparison to the threat of death and hunger as Israel intensifies a siege on the north.
The UN and Palestinian partners postponed the third and final phase of inoculations in Gaza's north on Wednesday “due to escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses”, Unicef said.
Vaccinations began on September 1 after the World Health Organisation found a baby had been left partially paralysed by the type 2 polio virus, in the first case in Gaza for 25 years. The suspension affects more than 119,000 children who were due to receive inoculations across the north of the territory.
“It doesn’t matter to us anymore if our children get vaccinated or not, whether it’s postponed or on time,” said Sanaa Hamouda, a 62-year-old displaced Palestinian sheltering in the Jabalia refugee camp, currently under Israeli siege. “If the children don’t die from disease, they’ll die from the ongoing massacre that the world is witnessing. The children are going to perish from lack of food and water.
“We made sure the children got their first vaccine earlier when there was some stability … But now, whether they postpone it or stop it altogether, it doesn’t make a difference to us, our children, or anyone else.”
The UN said the suspension would “seriously jeopardise” efforts to stop the transmission of polio and risked more children being paralysed by the disease, but parents said ending the violence was the priority.
“The whole world is watching us die and, at the same time, expects us to vaccinate our children,” said Mahdi Al Masri, a 38-year-old from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza. “If you really care about us, stop the genocide. Don’t be concerned about rescheduling vaccinations to fit around Israeli military operations and the atrocities happening to us. I have a son and a daughter who were supposed to be vaccinated, but honestly, I won’t do it.”
Unicef said it was impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccinations and health workers could not operate securely under current conditions.
Two employees of the UN's relief agency for Palestinian refugees were killed in an Israeli attack on Deir Al Balah in central Gaza on Wednesday, the official Wafa news agency reported. Witnesses said Israeli shelling targeted a UN-marked vehicle on Salah Al Din Road in the south of the city. Several other people were wounded, Wafa added.
More than 220 UNRWA workers have been killed in Israeli attacks since the Israel-Hamas war began just over a year ago – the deadliest conflict for the organisation since its inception in 1945.
Israeli forces began a military siege on Gaza's north around three weeks ago, blocking the entry of aid and medical assistance to Jabalia refugee camp. Bodies have been seen strewn across Jabalia's streets, while northern Gaza's Indonesian Hospital was set on fire by Israeli forces on Monday, authorities and witnesses told The National. Israel has said its goal is to eradicate the operational infrastructure of Gaza-based militant group Hamas. Last week Israeli forces killed the leader of the group, Yahya Sinwar, but the violence has since continued unabated.
UNRWA has called for a temporary truce to allow departures from the north, where it said people are “waiting to die” after weeks of Israeli bombardment.
“It is crucial to create the necessary conditions to urgently resume the campaign in the north by implementing humanitarian pauses and ensuring access to all areas where children under the age of ten are located,” Inas Hamdan, Gaza acting public information officer at UNRWA, told The National.
Some parents in Gaza said they were still hopeful their children would receive vaccinations despite the fighting.
“Many people have already given their children the first dose and are now waiting for the second,” said Malak Ayyad, a 27-year-old resident of the Al Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza city. “I gave my daughter her first dose and she’s supposed to get her second. While the vaccine won’t protect us from death or shield our children from fear and terror, it is better than not taking it because we need to protect them with whatever is available. Vaccination remains important because if a child is already sick, they’re more vulnerable to starvation.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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