UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct  11, 2023 (AFP) - At least 11 UN

staff and personnel, as well as 30 students at UN schools, have been killed in
the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants launched their attack on Israel, a
spokesman said Wednesday.

       "11 UNRWA staff and personnel have been killed since Saturday," spokesman
Stephane Dujarric told reporters, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees which also runs schools in Gaza.

       "30 UNRWA students have also been killed and another eight have been
injured."

       The dead included five teachers, a gynecologist, an engineer, a counselor
and three support staff, UNRWA's deputy director Jennifer Austin said in a
statement.

       "UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the
families," she said.

       "UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times during conflict. We
call for the fighting to come to an end to spare more civilian lives lost."

       UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for civilians to be
protected, and international humanitarian law to be upheld, as Israel on
Wednesday kept up its bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza.

       "About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities
across Gaza," he said, adding that UN premises, hospitals, clinics and schools
must "never be targeted."
       "UN staff are working around the clock to support the people of Gaza and I
deeply regret that some of my colleagues have already paid the ultimate price,"
he said.
       And he called for "crucial" aid -- including fuel, food and water -- to be
allowed in to the Gaza Strip.

       "We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now."