Independent review group finds UNRWA equipped to uphold principle of neutrality

By Merve Aydogan

TORONTO, Canada (AA) - An interim report revealed Wednesday that the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) has the necessary mechanisms to uphold the principle of neutrality following Israeli allegations.

Deputy spokesperson Florencia Soto Nino said at a news conference that the group investigated if UNRWA adheres to the principle of neutrality and what actions are taken when the principle is violated or when allegations are made against the agency.

She said that "the independent review group will submit its interim report officially to the Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) later today."

“UNRWA has in place a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the humanitarian principle of neutrality, and the group has also identified critical areas that still need to be addressed," said Nino.

"The review group will now develop concrete and realistic recommendations on how to address these critical areas to strengthen and improve UNRWA," she said, adding that the final report will be released April 20.

UNRWA has been hindered from doing its job since January when Israel accused a handful of its thousands of employees of being involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Amid a probe of the claims, several countries have cut off funding to the agency, and its aid work for Gaza’s famine-stricken population has suffered.

At least 18 countries initially suspended funding to the agency amid the allegations.

UNRWA was created by the UN General Assembly more than 70 years ago to assist Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from their land.

The agency provides crucial support to millions of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and other areas where large numbers of registered Palestinians live.