'If there is a hell on earth today, it's name is northern Gaza', says UN official

The spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) described life in northern Gaza as "hell on earth" as Israel deepens its blockade and bombardment. 

Jens Laerke expressed his frustration that no aid had reached northern Gaza in over one month.

"We cannot drive to the north at the current point, which is of course deeply frustrating because we know there are several hundred thousand people who remain in the north," Laerke said. 

"If there is a hell on earth today, its name is northern Gaza," he added. "It is a life of fear by day and darkness at night. And what do you tell your children in such a situation, it's almost unimaginable - that the fire they see in the sky is out to kill them?"