International aid workers in Gaza have submitted a whistleblower complaint to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), alleging serious misconduct and misappropriation of humanitarian funds by the World Food Program (WFP) and other United Nations agencies, based on a document obtained by Fox News Digital.
A whistleblower revealed details regarding alleged U.N. intervention in aid efforts for Gaza back in July. This individual has confirmed their complaint with Fox News Digital.
The complaint suggests that WFP and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have not adequately addressed coordination issues, citing eyewitness accounts from senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel who reportedly provided essential support, including security and coordination, to representatives from OCHA.
The whistleblower expressed concerns, questioning why WFP and OCHA were unwilling to engage with the assistance offered by the IDF, thereby hindering aid from reaching Gaza’s populace. Interviewing the whistleblower, they mentioned that while the IDF actively supports the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), it simultaneously backs U.N. agencies, which they believe complicates the distribution of assistance.
In recent images that have been publicly available, the IDF has allegedly granted clearance for large quantities of U.N. humanitarian supplies that are currently stagnant within Gaza. The whistleblower raised doubts about whether U.S. taxpayers are unknowingly contributing to the inefficiencies experienced by U.N. officials.
Since May, GHF, with U.S. support, has provided over 127 million meals to Gaza. Yet, the distribution process has faced ongoing disruptions from Hamas, as well as challenges from some international aid organizations.
The whistleblower indicated there have been efforts to undermine GHF by the U.N., which they seem to distrust.
A senior official from the U.S. State Department stated such actions by GHF present a potential threat to Hamas’s operations, as GHF aims to relieve needs of the populace, thereby limiting resources for Hamas. Consequently, Hamas has attacked GHF facilities.
Rev. Johnny Moore, the GHF executive chair, noted that he would rather support U.N. efforts than allow donations to benefit a terrorist organization like Hamas.
The State Department has emphasized that the diversion of aid to terrorist groups is a frequent issue in conflict zones and is a key focus for U.S. oversight.
According to a State Department assessment, serious vulnerabilities have been discovered concerning how aid is monitored to prevent it from being misappropriated by terrorists.
The situation has garnered interest from legislators, with several congressional offices currently discussing the whistleblower’s reports with USAID and State Department officials. A Senate aide confirmed that they have expressed interest in the findings.
Responding to criticisms, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, dismissed accusations that the U.N. was not coordinating effectively with the IDF. He asserted that U.N. personnel are in contact with relevant Israeli authorities to facilitate aid efforts.
The whistleblower also noted that claims of “starvation” in Gaza are often exaggerated, with some hunger issues existing but not widespread.
The WFP has countered allegations surrounding its involvement in aid disruptions, stating such claims are unfounded. They clarified that the routes taken for aid distribution differ from those used by other humanitarian groups.
Former National Security Council official Richard Goldberg highlighted that cooperation with Israel is crucial for effective aid delivery, arguing that U.N. coordination should not aid terrorist groups.
