The International Federation of the Red Cross, IFRC, has revealed that its staff and others wasted more than $6 million earmarked for the fight against deadly Ebola outbreak in West African states of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
The organisation also said in a report an internal investigation of how money was handled during the 2014-2016 epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
According to the Red Cross report, about $2 million disappeared due to “likely collusion” between Red Cross staff and employees at a Sierra Leonean bank, adding that there was evidence of fraud in the two other hardest-hit countries during the Ebola crisis, Liberia and Guinea.
In Liberia, investigators found that there was “evidence of fraud related to inflated prices of relief items, payroll and payment of volunteer incentives.”
The IFRC estimated the loss at $2.7m.
In Guinea, at least $1 million reportedly went missing because of fraudulent billing practices by a customs clearance service provider. Two other investigations there are pending, according to the Red Cross.
Ebola erupted in Guinea and spread rapidly to Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The international aid response was initially slow, and once money arrived it was often disbursed quickly in the rush to purchase supplies and get aid workers into the field.
“I feel disappointed and concerned by the reaction of a few individuals, that their actions detract from the amazing work of the Red Cross staff and volunteers during the Ebola outbreak,” said Paul Jenkins, head of the delegation for the IFRC and Red Crescent Societies in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.
“Their actions saved thousands of lives and the IFRC will continue to ensure that its funds are used for the purpose for which they are given,” he said.
The IFRC said it was strengthening its efforts to fight corruption, including introducing cash spending limits in “high-risk settings.”
It also plans to send trained auditors along with emergency operations teams.
Other measures will include additional staff training and the establishment of a dedicated and independent internal investigation function.
The IFRC said it was working with Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission to “investigate and legally pursue any persons involved.”
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER