The Review Group, selected with input from UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, will assess if the agency is taking all necessary measures to maintain impartiality and address any accusations of major violations that may arise.

The organization will be headed by Catherine Colonna, a former French Foreign Minister. She will collaborate with three research institutes: the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

The project will commence on February 14th with an initial report due to be presented to the Secretary-General by the end of March. The conclusive report, which will be available to the public, is projected to be finalized by the end of April.

Parallel investigations 

The evaluation is a result of a petition made by the UNRWA Commissioner-General in the previous month.

It will occur simultaneously with a probe currently being carried out by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) regarding accusations of 12 UNRWA employees’ involvement in the October 7th attacks.

The Secretary-General stated that the allegations were made during a difficult period for UNRWA, the biggest UN group in the area. Despite facing tough circumstances, the organization continues to provide critical aid to two million individuals in the Gaza Strip who rely on it for survival, amidst one of the most extensive and complicated humanitarian crises globally.

Last week, the United Nations issued a warning that aid efforts in Gaza are in danger due to 16 donor countries reducing their support for the agency.

Determine steps, suggest actions

The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of cooperation from the Israeli authorities, who brought forth the accusations, in order for the investigation to be successful. He also outlined the terms of reference for the independent Review Group in his statement.

The committee plans to review the methods and protocols utilized by UNRWA to uphold neutrality and address any accusations or evidence of potential violations of this principle.

It will ascertain how those mechanisms and procedures have, or have not, been implemented in practice and whether every practicable effort has been made to apply them to their full potential, considering the particular operational, political and security environment in which the agency works.

One more responsibility will involve evaluating whether those methods and steps are suitable for their intended use, particularly in regards to handling potential risks. This will also consider the current circumstances of operations, politics, and security.

In conclusion, the Review Group will suggest ways to enhance and fortify the existing mechanisms and procedures, or propose new and alternative ones that are more suitable, taking into account the unique operational, political, and security circumstances of UNRWA.

Source: news.un.org