The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, on Monday condemned "unequivocally the appalling number of civilian deaths in Gaza." "Today, I returned to Gaza and witnessed first-hand the catastrophic impact of the hostilities, the scale of the destruction is enormous, the humanitarian needs are enormous and escalating, while civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict," Wennesland said in a statement. . The UN official noted that during his visit to Gaza he met with "heads of UN agencies and staff who are working tirelessly in very difficult conditions," stressing that "their commitment and courage in providing critical support to those in need is truly commendable." Source:Jordan News Agency