The head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees has decried the devastating humanitarian toll in Gaza and warned that an urgent humanitarian ceasefire is needed to end the “hell on earth there”, Al Jazeera reports.

“By any description, it is definitely the worst situation I have ever seen,” said UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.

“People are coming to the UN to seek protection, but even the blue flag is not protected anymore. By any account, the situation has reached a catastrophic nature,” he said.

Lazzarini warned that UNRWA is on the verge of collapse in Gaza and added that the world has failed the Palestinians.