UNRWA said that its appeal “comes amid protests against reductions in emergency activities that have already been caused by severe funding shortfalls, and against the backdrop of events elsewhere in the Arab world.”

Chris Gunness, UNRWA spokesman, said in a press statement that UN “programs in Gaza face a critical funding situation. These programs are separate from the agency’s regular education, health and relief activities, and are specifically tailored to address the most urgent humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable refugees in Gaza.”

“We call on our donors and other stakeholders to respond to this appeal as an urgent priority,” said Gunness.

According to the spokesman, “UNRWA fears that without a substantial injection of cash toward its emergency work in Gaza, food rations to hundreds of thousands of refugees, including children in UN schools, may be reduced in the coming months and community health programs will be threatened, including psycho-social support to 25,000 children.”

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities on Tuesday demolished two structures in West Bank town of Beit Ommar, to the north of Hebron, under the pretext they were built without the needed building permits.

Mohammed Ayyad Awad, spokesman of Beit Ommar Popular Committee Against the Wall, said that Israeli bulldozers backed by security forces and Israeli Civil Administration arrived at the town on early on Tuesday and razed an 80-meter-square home and 200-meter-square garage.