February 2001 World Headlines

Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - Web posted at 9:27:25 AM GMT

UN employees investigated for demanding bribes from refugees

NAIROBI - At least four United Nations employees are under investigation for allegedly extorting bribes from refugees in return for resettlement in Western countries, a UN spokesman said yesterday.

Paul Stromberg, regional spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said three Kenyan employees have been assigned new duties pending the outcome of the investigation, while an Italian employee did not have his contract renewed in connection with reports that refugees were asked to pay up to US$5,000 to be resettled in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.

Three other UN employees, an American and two Europeans who reportedly knew about the scheme, were transferred out of Kenya because of death threats."

"In early October, we had threats against the international staff," Stromberg said.

"They were threatened with death if they cooperated with the investigation.

We had real reason to take the threats seriously, so we moved the staff out of the country."

"A fourth person was relocated at least temporarily because of death threats, Stromberg said, adding "We are very concerned about the security situation."

"Stromberg said an initial investigation launched in December 1999 by the United Nations Office in Nairobi was inconclusive, so the United Nations' special central audit body, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, was called asked to step in last July.

Pending the outcome of that investigation, Stromberg said there was little information UNHCR could release.

UNHCR is required under international law to protect refugees and provide them with free food, shelter and health care until their refugee status is resolved.

International refugees, who are defined as having crossed an international border to flee persecution, usually face only three options, return home, be integrated into the host country or be resettled elsewhere.

Countries are not compensated for receiving refugees, but UNHCR spends millions of dollars buying supplies and hires hundreds of local citizens to help administer the camps, often becoming a huge industry in poor countries that opens the door to corruption.

- Nampa-Sapa-AP

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