The UN secretary-general has appointed an independent panel to assess the activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), says a statement circulated by the office of Antonio Guterres, Paralel.Az reports citing TASS.

"The Secretary-General, in consultation with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, has appointed an independent Review Group to assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made," the statement said.

"The review will be led by Catherine Colonna, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, who will work with three research organizations: the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights," the statement added.

The Review Group begins its work on February 14, and "is expected to submit an interim report to the Secretary-General late March 2024, with a final report expected to be completed by late April 2024." The final report will be made public, it said.

"This independent external review will take place in parallel with an investigation currently underway by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into allegations of the involvement of 12 UNRWA personnel in the 7 October attacks," the statement pointed out.