ALBAWABA - A report by Reuters revealed that the World Food Programme (WFP) is investigating its top officials for "fraud and concealing information from donors about its ability to deliver food aid to civilians amid the nation’s dire hunger crisis,".
According to five of the sources who spoke to Reuters, the investigation was started by the WFP's Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and it looks into whether staff members tried to conceal the alleged role of Sudan's army in obstructing aid during a bloody 16-month conflict with another paramilitary group over control of the nation.
The WFP's deputy country director in Sudan, Khalid Osman, has been handed a "temporary duty assignment" outside Sudan for the period of the investigation, which is basically considered a de facto suspension.
Citing four sources, Reuters reported that the second official, Mohammed Ali, WFP area manager, is suspected of having a connection with the alleged disappearance of 200,000+ liters of the UN food program's fuel in the Sudanese city of Kosti.
Reuters could not confirm whether Ali would remain in his role. Both the deputy director and area manager declined to provide Reuters with comments regarding the investigation, referring the news agency to the WFP’s media office.
"Allegations of individual misconduct related to irregularities in pockets of our operation in Sudan are under urgent review by its inspector general’s office," the WFP stated commenting on the probe launched in Sudan.
The World Food Program (WFP) alerted the U.S. government's aid agency, USAID, on August 20 about "potential incidents of fraud affecting WFP operations in Sudan" the organization said in a statement to Reuters.
According to USAID, which contributes over half of all funds to the WFP annually, it is the single biggest donor to the organization.
According to the USAID statement, "These allegations are deeply concerning and must be thoroughly investigated," "USAID immediately referred these allegations to the USAID Office of the Inspector General,".
