Schwere Korruptionsvorwürfe gegen UN-Agentur in Syrien

Korruptions- und Missbrauchsvorwürfe gegen UN-Agenturen und vor allem die Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO sind nichts Neues. Zuletzt standen Mitarbeiter der Organisation wegen sexuellen Missbrauchs im Kongo in der Kritik.

Nun ist die syrische Dependance der Organisation dran:

Staffers at the World Health Organization’s Syrian office have alleged that their boss mismanaged millions of dollars, plied government officials with gifts -- including computers, gold coins and cars -- and acted frivolously as COVID-19 swept the country.

More than 100 confidential documents, messages and other materials obtained by The Associated Press show WHO officials told investigators that the agency’s Syria representative, Dr. Akjemal Magtymova, engaged in abusive behavior, pressured WHO staff to sign contracts with high-ranking Syrian government politicians and consistently misspent WHO and donor funds.

Magtymova declined to respond to questions about the allegations, saying that she was “prohibited” from sharing information “due to (her) obligations as a WHO staff member.” She described the accusations as “defamatory.”

Complaints from at least a dozen personnel have triggered one of the biggest internal WHO probes in years, at times involving more than 20 investigators, according to staffers linked to the investigation.