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While the war in Yemen continues with the abuses of various parties to the conflict, the United Nations is not immune from these abuses, although they are more closely linked to suspicions of various forms of corruption. through its agencies operating in the country.
In a few days, more than one corruption scandal has been revealed in UN agencies and organizations, so this body, which has long called for transparency through various offices and agencies and presented models in this respect, seems to be in contradiction with its demands. This is apparent at least from some investigations by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that began last week. A confidential report from the agency's Ethics Office revealed that members of the agency's top management had abused their authority, including favoritism. Discrimination and badual misconduct.
Although reports have been received on the suspicions of this report and its possible political dimensions to liquidate the agency, which serves more than 5.4 million Palestinian refugees in five asylum areas, reports that of possible corruption of two other UN organizations have also been linked to a field of Arab activity.
Suspicious contracts
More than a dozen United Nations rescuers have been deployed to face the humanitarian crisis brought on by five years of civil war in Yemen, accusing them of corruption and cooperation with other forces, reported on Monday. the Associated Press. Conflict, from all parties, with the aim of illegally enriching food, medicine, fuel and funds from international donations.
The agency confirmed that it had obtained internal UN investigative documents and interviewed eight aid workers and former government officials. As a result, WHO auditors have investigated allegations that unskilled workers have been hired for high-paying jobs, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been deposited in personal bank accounts, and dozens of suspect contracts have been reported. approved without proper documentation. In addition to the loss of tons of drugs and fuel donated.
Another investigation conducted by another United Nations agency, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), also concerns a staff member who allowed a leader of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) to travel in the agency's vehicles, thus preventing air strikes from the Saudi-Emirati coalition forces.
In any case, this undermines the reputation of the United Nations, but critics say that this type of corruption threatens the international lifeline on which most of Yemen's 30 million people depend. In February, the United Nations and donors in 16 countries pledged $ 2.6 billion to continue and expand humanitarian operations in Yemen. The total amount pledged by international donors at the High-Level Conference on the Yemen Declaration of Commitment in Geneva represents a 30 per cent increase over the $ 2.01 billion of last year.
"Take care of a responsible dog"
In Yemen, WHO's efforts are focused on the fight against epidemics, especially cholera, dengue fever and diphtheria, and seek to raise awareness of the medical sector as a whole, taking advantage of funds allocated by WHO. Including its programs. The organization's investigation into its operations in Yemen is linked to Nevio Zagaria, an Italian physician who ran the organization's office in Sanaa from 2016 to September 2018, according to three people who have acquainted direct from the survey. The only public announcement of the survey was made in a 37-page sentence of the 2018 annual report of the internal auditor for activities conducted around the world. The report did not name Zagaria by name. The May 1 report revealed that the financial and administrative controls of the Yemen office were "unsatisfactory" – the lowest rating – and highlighted irregularities in employment and contracts concluded without competition, with a lack of control over public markets.
The World Health Organization spokesman, Tarik Gasarevic, told The Associated Press that the investigation was ongoing. He added that Zagaria had retired in September 2018, but had neither confirmed nor denied that Zagaria was specifically the subject of an investigation. "OIOS is currently investigating all the concerns raised," he said. "We must respect the confidentiality of this process and we can not go into details."
Four current and former staff members said that the WHO office in Yemen, headed by Zagaria, was filled with corruption and nepotism. Three of them said that Zagharia had hired junior staff – who had worked with him in the Philippines – while being promoted to high-paying jobs, even if they were unskilled. "Two of them got two prestigious positions, but their only role was to take care of the Zagaria dog," said two employees. "Unskilled and well-paid employees undermine the quality of work, monitor projects and create numerous loopholes for corruption," said a former aid officer.
According to internal documents, it has been agreed with local companies to provide services to the Aden office (in southern Yemen, which is controlled by the Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi government). World Health Organization (WHO). The owner of a business was seen handing money to an employee, according to the documents, an obvious bribe. According to Zagharia, relief funds were used with little responsibility or control, according to internal documents. According to the rules of the World Health Organization, aid funds can be transferred directly to the staff accounts, a measure to speed up the purchase of goods and services in the context of crisis. The organization says that it is necessary to continue operations in remote areas as the banking sector in Yemen is not fully operational. Since this process is meant to be limited to emergencies, it is not necessary to determine the expenditures for these direct transfers. For example, Zagaria has accepted the direct transfer of funds of $ 1 million to certain staff, according to the documents. But, in many cases, the way these employees spent the money is not clear.
Under the protection of UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is investigating allegations of wrongdoing by its staff in Yemen. According to three people close to the case, observers of the organization are investigating Khurram Javed, a Pakistani suspected of having authorized a senior Houthi official to use a vehicle from the agency, which allowed the latter to protect himself from strikes. of the Saudi-UAE coalition. Their cars with the alliance to ensure their safety. Officials fear that the organization's vehicles will be targeted if coalition forces believe that they are being used to protect the Houthis.
Javed was known for his close ties with Houthi security services. A former colleague and a senior emergency services official claimed to be boasted of having prevented UNICEF observers from entering the country through his relationship. Houthis had even installed a large billboard in a Sanaa street to thank him for his services. UNICEF officials confirmed that an investigative team traveled to Yemen to review the allegations and announced that Javed had been transferred to another office, without however revealing where he was. found.
According to several people who spoke to the Associated Press, there is close relationship between UN staff and local officials on both sides of the conflict – Houthi and Hadi. According to a confidential report of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Yemen, the authorities of Ansar Allah urge humanitarian agencies to force them to engage Loyalists and intimidate them by threatening to cancel visas to control their movements and to implement certain projects. The inability or reluctance of the United Nations to tackle alleged corruption in its aid programs is detrimental to its efforts to help war-affected Yemenis, said one official.
The Associated Press also said that UN investigators were leaving the Sana'a airport sometime in October 2018, including laptops and tablets collected from WHO staff, confiscated by the Houthis, after being informed by the Houthis. The employee of the WHO party is bound to them, so "for fear of revealing the theft of aid funds".
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