YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS. 13,000 children have died so far in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war, UNICEF chief Catherine Russell tells CBS’s "Face the Nation", calling it an "astronomical, horrifying number."

“What’s happening now is more than 13,000 children already have been killed which is an astronomical, horrifying number. Thousands more have been injured or we can’t even determine where they are, they may be stuck in the rubble. Thousands more have lost one or both parents,” she said.

UNICEF's executive director said this grief, stress and fear will have an impact on the children for the rest of their lives.

"I think these numbers that we’re seeing in Gaza are just staggering. We haven’t seen that rate of death among children in almost any other conflict in the world," she added.

The war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7 that left 1,200 people killed and 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's air, sea and ground assault on Gaza has killed more than 31,600 people and wounded over 73,600, according to Gaza health authorities.