• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Gazans report UNRWA staff stealing, selling aid: watchdog
Economy

Gazans report UNRWA staff stealing, selling aid: watchdog

by May 10, 2024
by May 10, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

A watchdog group is sounding the alarm, saying Gazans are reporting that employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are allegedly stealing and selling off humanitarian aid materials. 

UN Watch, a non-governmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday cited numerous reports published by Palestinians in an UNRWA-related chatroom claiming that UNRWA staff are stealing aid and selling it for profit, while those who report it face reprisals. Israeli and some U.S. officials have accused UNRWA of masquerading as a relief organization while supporting Hamas’ attacks on Israel. 

Amid the ‘rampant theft,’ the watchdog further claimed that UNRWA Commissioner-General Philipe Lazzarini ‘turns a blind eye’ to serious problems within the management of aid distribution by the agency. Lazzarini, meanwhile, recently called for countries to increase direct cash assistance to Gazans because, although ‘there is more food available… it still does not mean that the food is accessible.’

The chatroom – which the watchdog group notes is also riddled with antisemitic slurs and posts celebrating Iran’s attack on Israel – is run by a former UNRWA employee, Haitham al-Sayyed, according to UN Watch. The watchdog group noted that Al-Sayyed was removed from UNRWA in 2016 after he publicly called out the agency for hiding an UNRWA map that denied the existence of Israel while U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was holding a press conference at a school funded by the agency. 

‘While Haitham al-Sayyed was supposedly fired from UNRWA, he is still considered by many in the chat rooms as an important figure in the organization who holds sway with the senior administration,’ UN Watch said. The watchdog group said some UNRWA staff, ‘frustrated by inaction and even complicity of senior staff in these thefts,’ have confided in al-Sayyed ‘in the hope that he can get UNRWA’s top officials to listen.’

On Jan. 6, al-Sayyed posted a message sent to him by a UNRWA employee working in an emergency shelter set up at a school in Gaza, complaining in Arabic that ‘the displaced people in the external shelter do not get their right to food and non-food aid, but rather it is distributed at night and sold in front of our eyes.’ The employee said about 150 bags of diapers were distributed at night to those inside the school. 

The employee also said the school remained without electricity for over a month after someone stole diesel fuel from the shelter, but later ‘the thief was exposed, and the principal was informed, but to this day he is still working with us.’ The message also said a ‘young engineer with great morals’ had previously been in charge of the school, but when he prevented ‘night administration’ from stealing from the store after dark, ‘he was arbitrarily transferred on charges of embezzlement.’ 

The UNRWA worker reported that a female teacher put in charge of the morning administration ‘did not take any steps to stop these crimes until we became suspicious that she is complicit with them, and unfortunately, this evening, [the] manager had a hand and support in the operations, so it was very easy for him to transfer whoever he wants on charges of embezzlement.’ 

According to a screenshot of a Telegram message published by UN Watch, a member of the chatroom group, Dr. Izzat Shatat, wrote that a ‘director of a school warehouse came now with 50 cartons of food that were distributed in UNRWA schools and sold them to a merchant for 350 shekels per carton, equivalent to $100.’ 

‘How did he take out this amount of cartons? Where is the administration about this?’ Shatat asked.

Another UNRWA employee, Mohammed Musa al-Sawalhi, recounted in the chatroom on Feb. 20 how he witnessed some UNRWA employees stealing aid and heard that others were hoarding aid in their houses. He claimed, ‘80% of employees in the shelters have no morals or dignity,’ and said family members of one director were caught on video stealing aid. 

‘When will the directors of UNRWA centers in schools, especially Rafah Preparatory Girls School B, stop stealing the food and needs of the displaced?’ another group member wrote on March 1. 

UN Watch detailed how, on March 22, ‘a heated debate erupted in the chatroom where some UNRWA employees accused other employees of not giving them access to a medicine cabinet.’ 

One member commented, ‘From the past wars, I knew some employees personally, and I trusted them to be good people, but the soul is evil. Some of them were stealing on a daily basis as if it were a prize. This war revealed a lot and some of it was documented with photos, videos, and audio.’

A spokesperson for UNRWA told Fox News Digital, ‘We saw this report and are looking at what are very serious claims. We will provide an update when and if we have more information.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • PDO Stock Price: Forecast and Dividend Insights
  • Biden replacement? Illinois Gov. Pritzker keeping options open as some Democrats look for new blood
  • House Dems will use rare procedural maneuver to force Republicans to vote on abortion rights
  • INGRAHAM: The Bidens are selfish, mean grifters to the end
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel shows he ‘favors a Hamas victory,’ Republicans argue
next post
Furious Republicans accuse Biden of caving to anti-Israel protesters as ‘Squad’ Dems claim victory on Rafah

You may also like

Dems mock RNC for ‘desperate’ fundraising drive that includes stark...

March 2, 2024

Is the Biden administration preparing for the wrong kind of...

November 1, 2023

Sen. Ted Cruz ‘enthusiastically’ endorses Donald Trump for president: ‘This...

January 17, 2024

Possible gunfire breaks out at Trump rally in Pennsylvania

July 13, 2024

Republicans furious that Hunter Biden is reportedly sitting in on...

July 3, 2024

Pennsylvania House passes $100M mental health spending plan

June 8, 2023

White House doctor says Biden ‘fit to serve’ as president:...

February 17, 2023

James Biden ‘contradicted’ himself during testimony on brother’s involvement in...

February 22, 2024

Biden admin ripped by experts as antisemitism gets ‘worse’ over...

May 2, 2024

Jill Biden gets lesion removed from eyelid, deemed noncancerous

January 19, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout, pulls outlook

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025
    • The Unpredictable Stock Market: How to Make Sense of It

      May 8, 2025
    • AMD CEO calls China a ‘large opportunity’ and warns against strict U.S. chip controls

      May 7, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,633 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,339 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,321 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,303 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,186 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Krispy Kreme stock plunges after doughnut chain pauses McDonald’s rollout,...

      May 8, 2025
    • Don’t Buy Robinhood Stock… Until You See This Chart Setup

      May 8, 2025
    • UnitedHealthcare sued by shareholders over reaction to CEO’s killing

      May 8, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,066)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,530)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Utah governor signs gender-affirming health care...

    January 30, 2023

    Michael Cohen admits to inadvertently citing...

    December 30, 2023

    Biden’s vision for a Palestinian state...

    February 26, 2024
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here