(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime's security forces have deprived hundreds of families in Qamishli and Hasaka from receiving the humanitarian aid of the United Nations, claiming they have relatives against Bashar al-Assad.
Activist Malaz al-Yusus explained that hundreds of families were prevented from receiving their share of aid under claims of security problems. “When people went to collect their aid, they did not find their names in lists, then they were told to visit the security branches to know reasons, but people of course afraid of going to such places”
Al-Yusuf explained that act was not acceptable, because aid is given as part of the Humanitarian bridge between Damascus and Qamishli, where aid should be given to all fairly and indiscriminately, however, the regime officials created their own black lists to prevent people from receiving their aid, while they included their relatives and friends in beneficiaries names, with priority to them, regime loyalists and Baathies.
The Guardians, the British newspaper published an investigation August 29, 2016, showed that The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid programme.
The report mentioned that even businessmen whose companies are under US and EU sanctions have been paid substantial sums by the UN mission, including the president’s wife, Asma al-Assad, and another by his cousin Rami Makhlouf.
The UN says it can only work with a small number of partners approved by President Assad and that it does all it can to ensure the money is spent properly.
In figures, the investigation showed that The UN has paid more than $13m to the Syrian government to boost farming and agriculture, yet the EU has banned trade with the departments in question for fear of how the money will be used.
The UN has paid at least $4m to the state-owned fuel supplier, which is also on the EU sanctions list.
The World Health Organisation has spent more than $5m to support Syria’s national blood bank that is controlled by Assad’s defence department. But the WHO had “concrete concerns” about whether blood supplies would reach those in need, or be directed to the military first.
Two UN agencies have partnered with the Syria Trust charity, an organisation started and chaired by Bashar al- Assad’s wife, Asma, who is under both US and EU sanctions, spending a total of $8.5m.
Unicef has paid $267,933 to the Al-Bustan Association, owned and run by Rami Makhlouf, Syria’s wealthiest businessman, the friend and cousin of Assad, and his charity has been linked to several pro-regime militia groups.
Contracts have been awarded across UN departments with companies run by or linked to individuals under sanctions.
On top of this, analysis of the United Nations own procurement documents show its agencies have done business with at least another 258 Syrian companies, paying sums as high as $54m and £36m, down to $30,000. Many are likely to have links to
Assad, or those close to him.
The same British newspaper, has published a report October 28 this year, confirming that UN has hired scores of friends and political associates of Bashar al-Assad, as part of its relief operation in the country, according to documents leaked to the Guardian.
The staff lists show that relatives of high-ranking ministers have been on the Damascus payroll of UN agencies, including the refugee agency UNHCR and the World Health Organisation (WHO)
One former UN manager told the Guardian that every UN agency had at least “one person who is a direct relative of a Syrian official”.
A spokesman said “family connections are not taken into consideration nor investigated” when hiring staff, and the UN did not question prospective workers about their political affiliations.
In responses, the UN insisted that it remained impartial and defended the need to work with all parties in the conflict.
According to documents seen by the Guardian, almost two-thirds of the emergency health supplies needed in Syria have gone to government-held areas.
They also showed that 64% of the kits and medicines provided by the WHO since January have been delivered to areas held by or supporting Assad.
Only 13% of WHO supplies have reached Syria’s “besieged” areas, most of which are controlled by forces opposed to the regime.
Activist Malaz al-Yusus explained that hundreds of families were prevented from receiving their share of aid under claims of security problems. “When people went to collect their aid, they did not find their names in lists, then they were told to visit the security branches to know reasons, but people of course afraid of going to such places”
Al-Yusuf explained that act was not acceptable, because aid is given as part of the Humanitarian bridge between Damascus and Qamishli, where aid should be given to all fairly and indiscriminately, however, the regime officials created their own black lists to prevent people from receiving their aid, while they included their relatives and friends in beneficiaries names, with priority to them, regime loyalists and Baathies.
The Guardians, the British newspaper published an investigation August 29, 2016, showed that The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid programme.
The report mentioned that even businessmen whose companies are under US and EU sanctions have been paid substantial sums by the UN mission, including the president’s wife, Asma al-Assad, and another by his cousin Rami Makhlouf.
The UN says it can only work with a small number of partners approved by President Assad and that it does all it can to ensure the money is spent properly.
In figures, the investigation showed that The UN has paid more than $13m to the Syrian government to boost farming and agriculture, yet the EU has banned trade with the departments in question for fear of how the money will be used.
The UN has paid at least $4m to the state-owned fuel supplier, which is also on the EU sanctions list.
The World Health Organisation has spent more than $5m to support Syria’s national blood bank that is controlled by Assad’s defence department. But the WHO had “concrete concerns” about whether blood supplies would reach those in need, or be directed to the military first.
Two UN agencies have partnered with the Syria Trust charity, an organisation started and chaired by Bashar al- Assad’s wife, Asma, who is under both US and EU sanctions, spending a total of $8.5m.
Unicef has paid $267,933 to the Al-Bustan Association, owned and run by Rami Makhlouf, Syria’s wealthiest businessman, the friend and cousin of Assad, and his charity has been linked to several pro-regime militia groups.
Contracts have been awarded across UN departments with companies run by or linked to individuals under sanctions.
On top of this, analysis of the United Nations own procurement documents show its agencies have done business with at least another 258 Syrian companies, paying sums as high as $54m and £36m, down to $30,000. Many are likely to have links to
Assad, or those close to him.
The same British newspaper, has published a report October 28 this year, confirming that UN has hired scores of friends and political associates of Bashar al-Assad, as part of its relief operation in the country, according to documents leaked to the Guardian.
The staff lists show that relatives of high-ranking ministers have been on the Damascus payroll of UN agencies, including the refugee agency UNHCR and the World Health Organisation (WHO)
One former UN manager told the Guardian that every UN agency had at least “one person who is a direct relative of a Syrian official”.
A spokesman said “family connections are not taken into consideration nor investigated” when hiring staff, and the UN did not question prospective workers about their political affiliations.
In responses, the UN insisted that it remained impartial and defended the need to work with all parties in the conflict.
According to documents seen by the Guardian, almost two-thirds of the emergency health supplies needed in Syria have gone to government-held areas.
They also showed that 64% of the kits and medicines provided by the WHO since January have been delivered to areas held by or supporting Assad.
Only 13% of WHO supplies have reached Syria’s “besieged” areas, most of which are controlled by forces opposed to the regime.
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