Gaza's Silent Threat | Documentary
The mission of a lifetime: Protecting children from polio during war
About the film
Dr. Younis, a devoted father and grandfather, embarks on the mission of a lifetime: to vaccinate 600,000 children against polio in the midst of the war in Gaza.
Delivering vaccines in an active war zone is one of the most complex and urgent challenges faced by humanitarian workers, demanding extraordinary skills, courage and resilience.
Since October 2023, over 80 per cent of Gaza's health, water and sanitation infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged by military operations, creating the perfect conditions for the spread of infectious diseases like polio.
Amid recurrent security threats, through logistical obstacles and with limited access to health services, Dr. Younis and his team lead an urgent immunization campaign in Gaza to protect vulnerable children from the spread of polio.
This is more than a story about a vaccination campaign. It is a powerful testament to the impact of war on children's health — and a tribute to the courage of families and health workers striving to survive and care for one another in the most fragile of circumstances.
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Bios
Dr. Younis R. Awadallah
Born and raised in Gaza, Dr. Younis R. Awadallah is a distinguished public health expert with over four decades of experience in maternal and child health, immunization, and early childhood development. He has been instrumental in shaping health policies, strengthening immunization systems, and leading emergency response efforts in crisis-affected regions.
From 2010 to 2021, Dr. Awadallah served as a Health Specialist with UNICEF in Gaza, where he played a key role in coordinating maternal and child health programmes, supporting national health strategies, and enhancing immunization services. In 2024, he rejoined UNICEF as a Health Specialist (Vaccination and Cold Chain Manager) to support emergency health interventions.
Dr. Awadallah holds a medical degree from Al Azhar University and a master’s in public health from Al Quds University. His lifelong dedication to improving healthcare access and outcomes has made a lasting impact on vulnerable communities.
Dr. Younis is included in TIME's 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential People in Health for his leadership in this heroic vaccination campaign.
Fairuz Abuwarda
Fairuz Abuwarda is a humanitarian and development worker with over 15 years of experience in some of the most challenging contexts in the world. Since joining UNICEF 10 years ago, she has held multiple roles in emergency responses, early childhood development and programme management. Throughout her career, Fairuz has been guided by commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of vulnerable children and communities.
Currently serving as the UNICEF North Gaza Field Coordinator, Fairuz oversees the implementation of emergency and development interventions across multiple sectors, supporting vulnerable children and families. She led field operations during critical polio vaccination campaigns, ensuring that lifesaving vaccines reached children despite extreme access challenges, insecurity and displacement.
Fairuz’s work reflects her broader humanitarian philosophy – that every child, even in the most difficult circumstances, deserves access to protection, health and hope. Her experience exemplifies the resilience, courage and commitment of humanitarian workers who continue to make a difference in the lives of children in Gaza and beyond.
Photo gallery
Credits
Directed and produced by Maria Fernanda Lauret
Produced by Rawan Eleyan and Juan Haro
Executive Producers Tanya Turkovich and Jonathan Crickx
Edited by Emily Kinskey and Alaa Seoudy
Cinematography by Mohammed Natteel, Hussian Jaber and Ahmed Abu Ajwa
Field coordination by Sami Alhaw, Rawan Eleyan and Kazem Abdalmugni
Supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the 2024 polio vaccination campaign in Gaza was a collaborative effort of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the World Health Organization, and countless humanitarian actors, health workers and social mobilisers.
