United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks on Jan 23, 2024, at United Nations Headquarters. (PHOTO / AP)

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday established an independent panel to review the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The independent Review Group, established in coordination with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, will evaluate the agency's commitment to maintaining neutrality and its effectiveness in addressing allegations of significant violations as they occur.

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It will be led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who will work with three research organizations: the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Sweden, the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

The work is set to commence on Feb 14, with an interim report anticipated for submission to the secretary-general by late March. The conclusive report, which will be disclosed to the public, is slated for completion by the end of April.

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"The accusations come at a time when UNRWA, the largest UN organization in the region, is working under extremely challenging conditions to deliver life-saving assistance to the two million people in the Gaza Strip who depend on it for their survival amidst one of the largest and most complex humanitarian crises in the world," the top UN official said in a statement.