WHO’s top representative in Syria faces corruption, fraud accusations
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In the riven country by war, Syria, dozens complaints were filed by staffers against World Health Organization’s (WHO) top representative, Dr. Akjemal Magtymova, accusing her of corruption, fraud and abuse.
Magtymova was allegedly accused of mismanaging millions of dollars provided by donors and of presenting gifts to government officials.
She has been alleged of hiring incompetent relatives of government officials, with some have committed “countless human rights violations.”
Staffers accused her of engaging in abusive behavior, pressured WHO staff to sign contracts with high-ranking Syrian government politicians and consistently misspent WHO and donor funds, according to confidential documents obtained by The Associated Press.
She also is charged of violating the WHO’s COVID-19 guidance as the pandemic spread in the country and jeopardizing the lives of millions.
However, Magtymova, a Turkmenistan national, refused to respond to questions about the allegations, describing the accusations as “defamatory.”
The complaints have raised one of the biggest internal WHO investigations in years.
In 2021, Syria’s office budget reached $115 million that designated to address health issues where poverty rate exceeds 90%.
Javier Guzman, director of global health at the Center for Global Development in Washington, said the latest charges regarding Magtymova were “extremely disturbing” and unlikely to be an exception.
Guzman called for WHO to publicly release any investigation report into Magtymova and the Syria office.