Sunday, November 05, 2017

Red Cross Corruption

 An internal investigation into the  International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) handling of more than $124 million (106 million euros) during the 2014 – 2016 ebola epidemic, which saw more than 11,000 people killed in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, revealed former staff pocketed at least $6 million (5 million euros.) 

"We are pursuing every possible avenue to reclaim all funds that have been misappropriated, diverted, or otherwise illegally taken. This includes working with authorities in affected countries and elsewhere as appropriate."  the IFRC said.

The IFRC said it was working with Sierra Leone's Anti-Corruption Commission to "investigate and legally pursue any persons involved" after discovering "likely collusion between former IFRC staff and employees of a bank in Sierra Leone that led to a potential financial loss of 2.13 million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2.9 million)." The Associated Press news agency reported it is believed the money was lost when the bank improperly fixed the exchange rate at the height of the epidemic.

Meanwhile in Guinea, the IFRC said that "over- and fake billing by a customs clearance service provider […] led to an estimated loss of 1.17 million Swiss francs."

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