A new study says that the United Nations and other auxiliaries have repeatedly looked the other way because the help for citizens is stolen by terror groups and dictators, from Hamas in Gaza to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Last month, researchers Dr. Netta Barak Corren from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University and Dr. Jonathan Boxman outlined the harmful impact of auxiliary deviation in war zones, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Afghanistan, before he presented the likely case of distraction in Gaza.
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Somalis from South Omalia who carry their possessions go their way to a new camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia. July 2011. (Associated Press)
Somalia (1995-present)
In Somalia, researchers found diversion “in every phase of the Supply Chain”, in which almost half of the World Food Program (WFP) budget was recorded by cartel transport payments, “Ghost Camps” who kept help, family members who signed up for help and local “gatekeepers” do help.
Ultimately, the study assessed that only around 12.5% to 17.5% of helping Somalis in need.
An internal report of July 2023 commissioned by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, marked as “strictly confidential”, contained claims of Somalian internal displaced people (IDPs) who said “they were forced to pay for half the money aid they received to people in the authority of the authority of the authority of the authority of the authority of the authority of the authority of authority,” “” ” Reported “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts” Reuts “Reuts of the population,” the population were wondered.
Ethiopia (2020-2024)
In Ethiopia, researchers discovered that the WFP looked “the other way” in the event of distraction, mainly because Ethiopian military staff forced local mills to grind 30 tons of plundered grain in flower for their soldiers.
The American Bureau for International Development (USAID) discovered discrepancy and ultimately suspended help to Ethiopia.
Reuters also discovered that the WFP was aware of auxiliary abnormality in Ethiopia for several years. In response to worries pronounced in 2024, Cindy McCain, WFP director, publicly stated that the WFP has “zero tolerance for theft or distraction.”
On this undated photo of the Syrian official news agency Sana, the vehicle of a UN observer under a huge Syrian flag is in the hands of Syrian President Bashar Assad supporters during their visit to the pro-Syrian regime neighborhoods, in the province of Homs, Central Syria. (AP)
Syrian Civil War (2011-2024)
During the Syrian Civil War, the report states that the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad “dictated the conditions of humanitarian aid.” This included the transfer of approximately 51% of the aid by currency exchanges, and determining that rebels controlled areas were too dangerous for aid distribution.
Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)
Although the UN has reported the disappearance of about 1% of the help, the authors’ report estimated that about 60% of the beneficiaries received no help, which was given to Houthi -Loyalists or was sold by bad actors on the market.
Sudan Civil War (2023-present)
In Sudan, warring factions tried to refuse help to opponents. When WFP help was looted, researchers reported that the organization did not identify the loot, “afraid of being driven out of Sudan.”
South Sudanese hiding place in a transit center in Renk, Zuid-Sudan in May 2023. A top group of migration says that conflicts and natural disasters have led nearly 76 million people in their countries to be displaced, a new record, with violence in Sudan, Congo and the Middle East together of the new movement. (Sam Mednick/FileAP -Photo)
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The researchers report that two leading WFP officials were confronted with research “about accusations such as fraud and hiding information from donors” in Sudan.
In August 2024, the WFP told Reuters that his office of the inspector “accusations of individual misconduct with regard to irregularities in the bags of our operation in Sudan” investigated.
Afghanistan (2001-2021)
During the war of the Afghanistan 2001-2021, Barak-Corren and Boxman discovered that about 40% of the aid was derived by the Taliban that taxing humanitarian organizations, demanded medical care for fighters and took members on the payroll of humanitarian organizations.
The study showed that international supervisors who discover the activities “avoid[ed] Reporting to donors. “
Taliban hunters pose for a photo next to a UN vehicle that they plunder in Kunduz, Afghanistan, September 2015. (AP)
Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Fellow and editor of the long war journal Bill Roggio said he suspects ” [diversion figures] are even higher. The Taliban was and is still skilled in infiltrating aid organizations and distracting help to fill their treasury. “
Gaza (1949-present)
While the UN Assistance and Work Agency for Palestinian refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has denied the aid deviation in Gaza, Barak Corren and Boxman, noticed that distraction was reported by WFP and the UN Commissioner for Refugees. According to the authors, UNRWA must “be seen as a streamlined relief reduction of help with a unique level of international immunity and freedom of accountability.”
While Israel blames the hunger crisis in Gaza, the UN’s own data shows.
Hamas terrorists who wear clubs and firearms secure humanitarian auxiliary cars in the Northern Gaza area of Jabaliya on June. 25. (TPS IL)
The UN office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCA) refused to respond to questions about distraction in other conflict zones or that auxiliary providers are encouraged to hide distraction from donors.
A spokesperson for Unocha said in Gaza: “We have no proof of systematic aid deviation from the UN to Hamas. The UN and our partners have strict monitoring, by supervising deliveries when possible.”
Aid trucks from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provide help near Gaza City. (Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty images)
The UN and Humanitarian groups “have a series of measures … to reduce the risk of auxiliary abnormality and to offer effective supervision,” said the spokesperson.
UN’s own figures show that an estimated 88% of the help did not reach the intended destination between 19 May and 12 August.
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The official explained that the UN “does not pay for it. The world pays for it and is not responsible enough to prevent Hamas’s hands.” In this way the civil servant said: “They help Hamas and help to make this war longer.”
Reuters has contributed to this report.
