UNRWA - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check

LEFT BIAS

These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information reporting that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.

Overall, we rate UNRWA as left-biased based on advocacy for humanitarian aid and social support for Palestine. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to serious controversies and one-sided reporting that may leave out critical context.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: Jordan
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: LIMITED FREEDOM
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949 to provide assistance and protection for registered Palestine refugees to help them achieve their full potential in human development. Its services include education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency response, including in times of armed conflict. Their headquarters are based in Aman, Jordan.

Read our profile on Jordan’s media and government.

Funded by / Ownership

UNRWA’s funding primarily comes from voluntary contributions from UN member states, with the European Union being a significant contributor. It also receives some funds from the UN budget for specific projects. As of 2020, they had a budget of 800+ million dollars.

Analysis / Bias

As a UN agency, UNRWA aims to maintain neutrality by focusing on providing humanitarian aid and services to Palestinian refugees. However, it has faced criticism and controversy over the years, including allegations of bias, political influences, and mismanagement. These criticisms often stem from the complex and politically charged nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The website outlines their advocacy and provides news related to its activities like this UNRWA LAUNCHES RAMADAN CAMPAIGN AGAINST BACKDROP OF GAZA EMERGENCY – 100 PER CENT OF ZAKAT CONTRIBUTIONS GO DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE IN NEED and fact sheets such as this THE GAZA STRIP ON THE BRINK OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CATASTROPHE: HEALTH AND WASH CLUSTERS REASSERT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE LONG-LASTING CEASEFIRE. All articles reviewed are properly sourced from the UN and other government agencies.

Editorially, the UNRWA strongly supports Palestine and is opposed to the actions of Israel. Recently, Israeli officials and media have called the UNRWA a terrorist group. This is an accusation without proof, as the article presents allegations and concerns about UNRWA’s operations and its alleged connections to Hamas, but it does not provide definitive proof that UNRWA itself is a terrorist organization. Claims about links to terrorism and the participation of some employees in violence against Israel need thorough investigation and legal adjudication to be substantiated as the investigation is in progress.

Finally, right-leaning groups and those in support of Israel have labeled UNRWA as antisemitic, stating, “UNRWA Anti-semitism Poisons Palestinian Youth.”

In general, the content on the UNRWA website is reasonably fact-based but very one-sided in favor of Palestine, which may lack context. Their strong support for Palestine aligns with a left-leaning view.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate UNRWA as left-biased based on advocacy for humanitarian aid and social support for Palestine. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to serious controversies and one-sided reporting that may leave out critical context. (D. Van Zandt (03/14/2024)

Source: https://www.unrwa.org/

Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check