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A new research study reveals that the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have consistently overlooked cases where aid meant for civilians is misappropriated by terrorist groups and authoritarian leaders. Instances of such diversion have occurred with groups like Hamas in Gaza and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In their recent findings, Dr. Netta Barak-Corren from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Dr. Jonathan Boxman discussed how aid diversion negatively affects war-torn regions like Somalia, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and Afghanistan. They also highlighted evidence pointing to potential misappropriation of aid in Gaza.
Hamas terrorists carrying clubs and firearms secure humanitarian aid trucks in the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya on June. 25. (TPS-IL)
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) refrained from commenting on aid diversions in other conflicted areas or on whether there is pressure on aid organizations to hide diversion reports from donors.
An official spokesperson from UNOCHA stated that in the case of Gaza, “we do not possess proof of any systemic aid diversion from the U.N. to Hamas. The U.N. and affiliated partners implement rigorous monitoring systems whenever possible to manage deliveries.”
The U.N. trucks, operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are depicted supplying aid close to Gaza City.
According to the spokesperson, “The U.N. and relief organizations have established numerous precautions and controls to minimize the risk of aid misuse and ensure proper supervision.”
Barak-Corren told Fox News Digital that UNOCHA’s “answer demonstrates the exact phenomenon we pointed out in our research, which is that the U.N. prefers to avoid and suppress the issue of aid diversion as a general problem rather than confront it.”
The U.N.’s own figures show that an estimated 88% of aid did not reach its intended destination between May 19 and Aug. 12.
An Israeli military official told Fox News Digital that their issue lies with Hamas “controlling the aid, selling it, getting money out of it, paying salaries, and including [recruiting] other youngsters to fight against us.”
The official explained that the U.N. is “not paying for it. The world is paying for it, and not being responsible enough in order to avoid Hamas’ hands.” In this way, the official said, “they are assisting Hamas and assisting to make this war longer.”
