UN-funded non-governmental organisation (NGO) INTERSOS has decided to exit Somalia after an investigation uncovered ‘systematic fraud’ within the organisation.
INTERSOS Director General Kostas Moschochoritis told The New Humanitarian that it was a hard decision.
Local media reports that INTERSOS staff, mostly in Somalia and Kenya, may be laid off.
However, no disciplinary action has been taken against staff, according to Moschochoritis, adding that redundancies would be compliant with local guidelines.
He explained that the Italian-based organisation opened investigation early this year after receiving a complaint, discovering systematic ‘manipulation of procedures’, particularly in procurement.
‘We realised we could not fix it’, head of the NGO that provides health care and other services to hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia was quoted as saying.
Moschochoritis said that discussions were underway with local authorities and other agencies on a smooth handover.
Spokesperson at the office of the regional governor, Ahmed Meyre Makaran, said the news came as a shock.
Makaran said, ‘There is always room to improve. If there is something wrong, we can fix it. The city needs the hospital’.
MSF had exited Somalia in 2013 after reporting that local authorities had ‘tolerated and accepted attacks’ against its staff but it partially returned in 2017.
Source: The New Humanitarian
Photo source: Presidencia de la República Mexicana
