UNICEF spokesperson James Elder has urged an end to the war on Gaza in hope of stopping the "nightmare" of the Palestinians in the besieged territory.

Elder expressed his concern over the dire situation faced by the children of Gaza, saying no "suitable words" can describe the tragedy children are contending with.

At least 20 people, most of them children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza over the past days, Press TV reported.

Ashraf al-Qadara, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, has said the number of reported deaths only belongs to the victims who lost their lives in hospitals, but it is believed that tens of other people are dying silently due to hunger, without being transferred to hospitals.

Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, had previously highlighted the dire situation faced by the children in Gaza, emphasizing that Palestinian children are on the "verge of death."

Humanitarian officials have issued a dire warning, stating that unless a ceasefire is implemented and aid is significantly increased, the toll of malnutrition and disease is expected to rise, leading to an alarming loss of lives.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that the ongoing war has already claimed the lives of over 31,000 individuals.

It said that over 2 million displaced individuals across 100 regions are also struggling to find enough food to eat.

Israel has blocked the entry of food and aid supplies into Gaza, draining its limited health services.

The head of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said last month the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is a “man-made disaster,” and called for urgent steps to deliver aid to the besieged territory.

bd-pratidin/GR