EU's anti-fraud body probes aid for Syrian refugees

The European Union’s anti-fraud body is investigating Syria aid projects, officials said, after a similar US probe exposed bribery and fraud in some of its humanitarian assistance in the war-torn state.

The executive European Commission says the bloc mobilised more than €5 billion ($5.6 billion) to help people in Syria and Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, among others.

An estimated 13.5 million people, including six million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria according to the United Nations. Of these more than five million people are in areas that are hard to reach, making it especially difficult to account for and monitor aid provision.

Brussels gives grants to humanitarian organisations and the bloc’s anti-fraud office OLAF is now investigating such grants handed to two non-governmental organisations International Medical Corps (IMC) and GOAL.

“OLAF can confirm that it has opened two investigations into projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of Syrian refugees,” the bureau said, declining to comment further as the probes were under way.

GOAL did not respond to Reuters request for comment.

A spokeswoman for IMC said the only formal investigation the NGO was aware of was the US probe which led to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) temporarily halting some of its Syria relief programmes.

“Our Syria humanitarian aid programmes funded by other donors continue as well, enabling critical, life-saving relief to reach those suffering in Syria,” she said, adding the NGO has been reviewing and enhancing its internal procedures.