Hmm, wonder how much goes into the pockets of all his cronies.
UN pays tens of millions to Assad regime under Syria aid programme
Exclusive: Guardian analysis shows series of contracts awarded to government and charities linked to president’s family
The UN says it must work with the Syrian regime, led by Bashar al-Assad, to reach vulnerable civilians. Photograph: Sana Handout/EPA
Nick Hopkinsand Emma Beals
Monday 29 August 201612.00 EDTLast modified on Monday 29 August 201619.50 EDT
The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid programme that critics fear is increasingly at the whim of the government in Damascus, a Guardian investigation has found.
Businessmen whose companies are under US and EU sanctions have been paid substantial sums by the UN mission, as have government departments and charities – including one set up by the president’s wife, Asma al-Assad, and another by his closest associate, 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.
“Of paramount importance is reaching as many vulnerable civilians as possible,” a spokesman said. “Our choices in Syria are limited by a highly insecure context where finding companies and partners who operate in besieged and hard to reach areas is extremely challenging.”
However, critics believe the UN mission is in danger of being compromised.
Continue reading at:
UN pays tens of millions to Assad regime under Syria aid programme?
UN pays tens of millions to Assad regime under Syria aid programme
Exclusive: Guardian analysis shows series of contracts awarded to government and charities linked to president’s family
The UN says it must work with the Syrian regime, led by Bashar al-Assad, to reach vulnerable civilians. Photograph: Sana Handout/EPA
Nick Hopkinsand Emma Beals
Monday 29 August 201612.00 EDTLast modified on Monday 29 August 201619.50 EDT
The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid programme that critics fear is increasingly at the whim of the government in Damascus, a Guardian investigation has found.
Businessmen whose companies are under US and EU sanctions have been paid substantial sums by the UN mission, as have government departments and charities – including one set up by the president’s wife, Asma al-Assad, and another by his closest associate, 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.
“Of paramount importance is reaching as many vulnerable civilians as possible,” a spokesman said. “Our choices in Syria are limited by a highly insecure context where finding companies and partners who operate in besieged and hard to reach areas is extremely challenging.”
However, critics believe the UN mission is in danger of being compromised.
Continue reading at:
UN pays tens of millions to Assad regime under Syria aid programme?
