Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AMMAN526
2009-02-25 12:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDANIAN RED CRESCENT ECLIPSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF

Tags:  PREF EAID UNHCR IZ JO 
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VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #0526/01 0561220
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251220Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4554
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0709
UNCLAS AMMAN 000526 

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/ANE, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF EAID UNHCR IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN RED CRESCENT ECLIPSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION

REF: AMMAN 0410

UNCLAS AMMAN 000526

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/ANE, GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF EAID UNHCR IZ JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN RED CRESCENT ECLIPSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF
CORRUPTION

REF: AMMAN 0410


1. (SBU) Summary: The NGO International Relief and Development
(IRD)
has told PRM that it intends to sever its relationship with the
Jordanian Red Crescent (JRC) over its belief that the organization
was
deliberately double-billing donors for services. As part of an
independent inquiry, Post has determined that JRC requested and
received
funding for operations in the Marka and Hashimi JRC clinics from
IRD.
Additionally, JRC requested and received funding from the German and

French Red Cross for the same clinics. German and French Red Cross

officials in Jordan confirmed that their organizations, unaware of
the
IRD funds, funded 100 percent of the Marka and Hashimi clinic
operations
at JRCQs request. Post recommends that USG partners review all past

transactions with JRC to ensure the proper use of USG funds. Post
further recommends that no PRM partner enter into a fiscal agreement

with JRC, at least until the allegations of mismanagement are
clarified.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) On January 8, 2009, RefCoord met with Nick Stevens of
International Relief and Development (IRD)(protect) as part of
regular
monitoring and evaluation of the PRM-funded IRD primary health care

projects. JRC plays a key role in the project, managing and
staffing
six health centers in which the IRD project takes place. Stevens
said
that he had evidence that JRC was billing IRD for operations in the

Marka and Hashimi JRC clinics, which were already paid for by other

donors and would therefore limit IRD dealings with JRC in the
future.


3. (SBU) On February 3, and 4 respectively, Post spoke with
representatives of the French and German Red Cross in Jordan. The
Red
Cross organizations confirmed that JRC requested and received
funding
from their organizations for operations in the Hashimi and Marka
clinics. When they learned that IRD funded the same activities,
Both
the French and German Red Cross approached IFRC with the
irregularities.


4. (SBU) According to Robert Guzman of the French Red Cross, IFRC
Program Coordinator Andreas Fabricius, responsible for monitoring
the
JRC refugee program for IFRC, brought these irregularities to the
attention of IFRC leadership in January 2009. Upon learning of the

irregularities, IFRC Director Ahmed Gizo formally requested an
explanation of the fiscal aberrations from JRC President Hadid in
January 2009. At the date of this report, JRC had not responded to
the
request. President of JRC, Dr. Hadid expressed to Gizo his anger
that
IFRC had made public accusations against JRC. (Note: In previous
conversations with RefCoord, Gizo had expressed concerns about JRC
management controls and the professionalism of its administrative
staff,
but he did not mention evidence of wrongdoing. End note.) IFRC
management asked Fabricius, who uncovered the possible wrongdoing to

relocate to Syria (Note: Fabricius left Amman for reassignment to
Syria
on February 4, 2009. End note). Guzman saw Fabricius' reassignment
as
an attempt to placate Dr. Hadid of JRC. Post was unsuccessful in
our
attempts to contact Fabricius to confirm his involvement.


5. (SBU) Recommendations: Given the multiple, credible sources on

alleged JRC wrongdoing and IFRC-Jordan apparent knowledge of JRC
management issues, RefCoord recommends that IRD headquarters review
all
financial transactions with JRC and document all payments made in
fiscal

year 2008 to JRC for services in the Marka and Hashimi clinics.
IFRC
should be asked to account for any discrepancy found in the way USG

funds were allocated to JCS supported clinics. IFRC should present
the
result of any internal audit through IFRC headquarters to RMA
Geneva.


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