Investigations into Fraud Allegations Among UN Agency Staff in Sudan

Agencies - Moatinoon
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), responsible for providing humanitarian aid and affiliated with the U.S. government, announced in a statement that it had been notified by the World Food Programme (WFP) on August 20th regarding "potential fraud incidents affecting WFP operations in Sudan." USAID, which is the largest single donor to the program, provides nearly half of the annual contributions.

According to multiple sources, the WFP is investigating two of its senior officials in Sudan over allegations that include fraud and withholding information from donors about its ability to deliver food aid to civilians amid the severe hunger crisis in the country.

Five sources told Reuters that investigators are examining whether WFP staff attempted to cover up a suspected role of the Sudanese military in obstructing aid deliveries during a brutal war that has been ongoing for 16 months with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Six sources indicated that one of the individuals under investigation is Khalid Osman, the deputy director of the WFP in Sudan, who has been assigned to a "temporary mission" outside Sudan, effectively suspending him from his duties.

According to four sources, another senior official, Mohamed Ali, the director of the WFP office in Kosti, Sudan, is also under investigation concerning the disappearance of more than 200,000 liters of the organization’s fuel in the city. It was not confirmed whether Ali remains in his position.

When contacted by Reuters, both Osman and Ali declined to comment, referring the inquiries to the WFPs media office.

In response to a Reuters query about the investigation, the WFP stated that "the Office of the Inspector General is conducting an urgent review of allegations of individual misconduct in operations in Sudan," but declined to comment on the nature of the alleged misconduct or the status of specific employees.