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The United Nations (UN) has appointed a new envoy to carry out a “strategic assessment” of the agency responsible for supporting Palestinian refugees amid intensifying scrutiny and funding challenges, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has named British diplomat Ian Martin to lead the review of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), examining the “political, financial, and security” obstacles currently faced by the agency.
The UNRWA, which plays a central role in delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinian communities, has come under increasing criticism from Israel since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Israel severed ties with the agency in January, accusing 19 of UNRWA’s 13,000 staff members in Gaza of involvement in the October attacks, without any concrete proof given so far.
Speaking to reporters in New York, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said, “We’re trying to determine how, in such a complex environment, UNRWA can best continue to deliver aid to the Palestinian refugees who rely on it. These communities deserve the best possible service.”
The assessment is part of the broader UN80 initiative launched last month, aimed at tackling longstanding financial issues affecting UN operations — problems that have been deepened by cuts to US funding for international aid.
While not all UN agencies will be reviewed, Dujarric stressed that UNRWA’s role in Gaza was exceptional. “We are not questioning UNRWA’s mandate,” he said. “The review is to explore how it can improve its operations and better serve those in need.”
The UNRWA was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1949, following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the founding of the State of Israel. For over 70 years, it has provided vital support to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Ian Martin, the envoy appointed to lead the review, is an experienced UN official who has previously served in conflict zones such as Somalia, Libya, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Haiti. He is a graduate of both Cambridge and Harvard universities.
