"Let me begin by sharing the reaction to yesterday's news of this agreement to secure a ceasefire and end the war in the Gaza Strip from two children UNICEF spoke to in Deir al Balah, southern Gaza. Their words are far more powerful than anything I can say here today.
"Maisara is 13 years old. He said:
'I felt happy the moment I heard the news about the ceasefire. Finally, I will return to my city in the north, because like all children, we are tired of war. We want to live our childhood again. What makes me even happier is that we will no longer suffer from hunger.
'I will hug the soil of my city because I missed it so much. Returning to my city means going back to school and to our normal life.'
"Rasha is also 13 years old. She said:
'I miss my cousins. And we want to go visit them in the cemetery in East Bureij camp. And we want to go see our families in Gaza. Since the ceasefire was announced, we have all been happy.'
"These are just two of the more than one million children who have been waiting for this day for more than two years - two years of unimaginable suffering.
"The news of an imminent ceasefire brings a much-needed, long-overdue glimmer of hope for them and their families. This hope must be met with immediate, urgent action.
"It is critical that all parties to the conflict do absolutely everything they can to ensure the deal is implemented, sustained, and leads to lasting peace. In the hours until the ceasefire officially takes hold, children must be protected.
"The ceasefire will bring hope that the killing and maiming of children may finally stop. Over 64,000 children have either died or been injured due to attacks by Israel's military. Around 25 per cent of them have potentially life-changing injuries.
"UNICEF is ready. The aid must flow. Israel must open as many entry points as possible. The situation is critical. We risk seeing a massive spike in child deaths, not only neonatal, but also infants, given their immune systems are more compromised than ever before, nor have they had access to proper food for what is now years.
"To add to this a cold winter, without adequate shelter and clothing, will be lethal - we saw neonates die last year from hypothermia.
"But UNICEF knew this situation was coming. It takes months to get these supplies from around the world and into Gaza. We factored this in and started ordering tarpaulins and winter clothes in July.
"So, we aim to give two winter clothing kits to every baby under 12 months. And bring in one million blankets for every single child in Gaza.
"The list goes on. We have assisted devices for the many thousands of wounded children in the pipeline, since we have been blocked for so long in getting children items like wheelchairs and crutches.
"We are ready to support the restoration of water supply systems along with the drainage and sanitation systems, including solid waste management to serve all children and families in the Gaza Strip.
"And of course, nutrition.
"As an ultimate priority, the deal should be used to avert malnutrition and the extension of famine. UNICEF has the capacity to swiftly improve the nutrition status of 50,000 children below five years of age who are at high risk and 60,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. We have been doing it in the past months, but we need to be able to flood Gaza with nutritious supplies and treatment.
"A genuine ceasefire must be more than words; it must be sustained and respected, placing children's rights at the very centre. This means opening all crossings for humanitarian aid and ensuring that every child, north to south, is reached with the essentials for survival.
"Humanitarian relief is only the beginning. Children in Gaza also need schools reopened, play spaces restored, and time to heal from unimaginable trauma. This ceasefire must create conditions for both emergency aid and long-term recovery, so children like Maisara and Rasha can reclaim their childhoods. It will be a long road."
