GAZA CITY: The Unicef head on Wednesday dubbed the situation in the Gaza Strip as "devastating" amid a deadly Israeli offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
"Today I visited the Gaza Strip to meet with children, their families and Unicef staff. What I saw and heard was devastating. They have endured repeated bombardment, loss and displacement," Anadolu Agency quoted Unicef executive director Catherine Russell as saying in a statement.
"Inside the strip, there is nowhere safe for Gaza's one million children to turn," she added.
The United Nations (UN) official said that more than 4,600 children have been killed and nearly 9,000 others have been injured in the Gaza Strip.
"Many children are missing and believed buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings and homes, the tragic result of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas," Russell said.
"Newborn babies who require specialised care have died in one of Gaza's hospitals as power and medical supplies run out, and violence continues with indiscriminate effect," she added.
The Unicef head urged the parties to the Gaza conflict to "stop this horror."
"I once again call on all parties to ensure that children are protected and assisted, as per international humanitarian law. Only the parties to the conflict can truly stop this horror," Russell said.
At least 11,320 Palestinians have been killed since Oct 7, including nearly 7,800 women and children, and over 29,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.
Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques, and churches, have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli offensive. -- BERNAMA