GAZA, October 15, 2009 (WAFA)- World renowned actress Mia Farrow and award winning Egyptian actor Mahmoud Kabil, both UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors, concluded a two-day visit to Gaza today to witness first-hand the hardships that children continue to face.

'The children appear traumatized,” Farrow said. “The teachers say that when they hear a loud noise they look to the sky and cry out and weep.  They don’t know what the future holds. The many deprivations and fear. They deserve better.'

Farrow entered through the Erez crossing point in the North while Kabil crossed through the southern entry point of Rafah to meet up in Gaza, which has been under virtual blockade for 28 months.

Their visit comes nine months after the hostilities that killed over 1,400 people, including at least 350 children, and injured over 5,000 people, amongst them 1,600 children.

 In Rafah, Farrow visited a school in northern Gaza and a hospital in Gaza City where she spoke with children, teachers and doctors to see how the blockade is undermining basic services, such as education, health care and sanitation.

The UNICEF Ambassadors also heard testimonies from children who are now forced to work in tunnels in order to support their struggling families.

Farrow’s visit to Gaza is part of a week-long trip she is making to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, and will also be visiting Sderot, in Southern Israel, this is her first visit to the region as a UNICEF Good will Ambassador.

Kabil was in the West Bank during the month of Ramadan to show support for Palestinian children and families during the holy month.he said: “I am happy to finally be able to visit the children of Gaza and express my solidarity with their families for the suffering they are enduring on a daily basis.”

 Kabil said. “The blockade and the recent fighting have left an indelible impact on children. Palestinian children have the same rights as all children everywhere and these rights need to be upheld.” Adding “Nearly nine months after the end of the hostilities, around 20,000 residents are still displaced; and homes, vital infrastructure and the 280 schools damaged by the fighting still cannot be rehabilitated or repaired due to the ongoing blockade. Children remain at risk of death or injury from unexploded ordnance. Sixty per cent of the population of Gaza does not have daily access to water.”

Mia Farrow, internationally acclaimed actress and humanitarian activist, was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in September 2000 .

Mahmoud Kabil has been UNICEF Ambassador the Middle East and North Africa since January 2004, One of Egypt's most popular and award-winning actors.