The UK’s ambassador to the United Nations has warned that “many more” people will die in Gaza from violence, disease and famine without action to stop the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza on Friday, Barbara Woodward recounted a conversation with Save the Children’s director for the occupied Palestinian territory in which she was told that four in 10 of those killed in Gaza were children.

“That is close to 8,500 children dead,” Woodward said. “For those injured and surviving, nearly two-thirds of homes and schools are damaged or destroyed. Many more will die from attacks, from disease, from famine if we do not act to stop this humanitarian catastrophe.”