Review says UNRWA has ‘robust’ neutrality steps, issues persist

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A review of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has found that it has robust frameworks to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles though issues persist, in a report which could prompt some donors to review funding freezes, Reuters reports.

The report also said Israel had yet to provide supporting evidence for its claim that a significant number of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist organisations.

The United Nations appointed former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna to lead the UNRWA neutrality review. Reuters reviewed a copy of the Colonna-led review’s final report, which is due to be released later today.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has accepted the recommendations, his spokesperson said, calling on all countries to actively support UNRWA as it is “a lifeline for Palestine refugees in the region”.

The report said Israel had made public claims based on a UNRWA staff list provided to it in March that “a significant number” of UNRWA staff were members of “terrorist organisations”.

“However, Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of this,” it said.

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