WHO says it surpassed early polio vaccination targets in Gaza

The WHO said on Tuesday that its emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza has reached more children than expected, with 161,000 receiving their initial dose in the first two days.

The World Health Organization added that the first round of the vaccination drive would take another 10 days.

With Gaza lying in ruins and the majority of its 2.4 million residents forced to flee their homes due to Israel's military assault -- often taking refuge in cramped and unsanitary conditions -- disease has spread.

After the first confirmed polio case in 25 years, a massive vaccination effort began on Sunday, with localised "humanitarian pauses" in fighting.

The campaign aims to fully vaccinate more than 640,000 children in the besieged territory, devastated by almost 11 months of war.

Mainly affecting children under five, polio can cause deformities, paralysis and in some cases death.