Major US refugee contractor, International Rescue
Committee, embroiled in corruption probe, by
Ann Corcoran, 5/12/16
Gee, I wonder if this is why its CEO David Miliband (a Brit!) has his
toe back in UK political waters (here two days ago!). Is
he about to jump ship and go home?
I haven’t seen this story yet in the
American press, seems we always have to depend on the British press to inform
us of unsavory news involving refugees and the contractors the federal
government hires to take care of them.
The United States is investigating an international aid group headed by
David Miliband over allegations of corruption in projects intended to help
Syrian civilians and refugees.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of three international
groups to have had millions of pounds in funding withdrawn over alleged
bid-rigging and bribery. Mr. Miliband, a former foreign
secretary, was appointed president and chief executive of the organization in
2013, following his exit from Westminster politics.
USAID’s Office of the Inspector General confirmed on Friday that 14
entities and individuals had been suspended as part of a “complex investigation
into cross-border aid programs”.
This includes International Medical Corps, one of the largest providers
of medical aid to Syrians, and GOAL, an Irish NGO.
Allegations relate to the organizations
systematically overpaying for goods in Turkey. A senior USAID official,
speaking on condition of anonymity, said private Turkish companies had sold
cut-rate blankets and other basic materials at vastly inflated prices and
pocketed the difference.
“What became clear in the course of
this investigation was this was a pretty sophisticated operation,” the USAID
official said.
The IRC, which has an annual
budget of £350 million, relies heavily on government funding from Britain and
the United States. An IRC spokesman told The Times: “We are fully engaged and
working with USAID on this issue.”
Miliband and Obama are on the same
page—bring in the Muslim refugees! Except Obama isn’t going fast enough for
Miliband.
Two IRC staff members were dismissed
in January after it was found that they had accepted money from suppliers in
return for awarding them contracts. Continue reading where we learn that the Irish aid agency gets US dollars
too!
Just a reminder that David Miliband
was one of the first contractor CEOs to call for Obama to admit 65,000 Syrians
by the end of his term. Miliband later upped that number to 100,000.
See our huge archive on Miliband by clicking here. And, if these contractor names have
you confused, it is the IRC that is opening an office to bring Syrians to
Missoula, MT (among other places).
Let’s talk about their
money for a minute! Go to the most recent Form 990 for
the IRC by clicking here. Scroll down to page 9 where we learn that the IRC had a revenue stream
that year of over a half a billion dollars ($562,021,607) and $378,337,440 came
from “government grants.” That is you—the US taxpayer! Doing well by doing good…..
And, if you want to really get your blood
boiling scroll through a few more pages until you reach the staff salaries
where no less than 11 staff people make over $200,000 a year. Perhaps
the most necessary staffer they have right now—-their General Counsel—makes a
bit less at $195,427. Then look at the line for Miliband—-over $300,000 in cash, but it says
“annual compensation $600,000.” What
is up with that? Are they paying his NYC housing on the side somehow?
And, to wrap up with adding more
insult to injury—their former CEO George Rupp is still pulling in annual
compensation of $338,855 in this Form 990 that ended September 30, 2014. I wonder what the underlings toiling
away in resettlement offices across the US are making? What is Miss Mary going to make in Missoula? Go here to
see where the IRC is placing refugees in the US. Besides Missoula, MT
they have four new offices.
https://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/major-us-refugee-contractor-international-rescue-committee-embroiled-in-corruption-probe/
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