By Salim Siddiqui
NEW YORK: In a recent development, UN Secretary-General, in collaboration with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, has formed an independent Review Group to assess the agency’s commitment to neutrality amid serious allegations. Catherine Colonna, former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, will lead the group, joined by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, the Chr. Michelsen Institute, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
Set to commence its work on February 14, 2024, the Review Group is expected to submit an interim report by late March, with a final report due in late April. Notably, the findings will be made public. This review follows a request from UNRWA Commissioner-General Lazzarini earlier this year.
The Review Group’s terms of reference include identifying existing mechanisms for ensuring neutrality, assessing their implementation in practice, evaluating their adequacy, and making recommendations for improvement or the creation of new mechanisms. These considerations will be contextualized within the challenging operational, political, and security environment UNRWA operates in.
These allegations come amid UNRWA’s vital efforts in the Gaza Strip, where it faces immense challenges delivering life-saving assistance to the 2 million people amidst one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Simultaneously, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services is investigating allegations involving 12 UNRWA personnel in the October 7 attacks. Cooperation from Israeli authorities, who raised these allegations, is deemed critical for the investigation’s success.
