Refugees: Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

I missed this article last week on the corruption that infuses UN-run refugee camps. We've heard a lot recently about the sexual abuse that runs rampant in these camps, but this was new to me:

In fact, abuse at these camps went beyond sexual violations: Injustices of one sort or another were perpetrated by U.N. missions or their affiliated nongovernmental organizations every day in the camps I visited. Corruption was the norm, in particular the embezzlement of food and funds by NGO officials, which often left camp resources dangerously inadequate. Utterly arbitrary judicial systems in the camps subjected refugees to violent physical punishment or months in prison for trivial offenses -- all at the whim of officials and in the absence of any sort of hearing.

And this:

...local NGO employees who are contracted by the United Nations to work in the camps are covered by a de facto implied immunity. That is, if these individuals are identified as being connected with U.N. operations, they will probably never face charges for their actions by local authorities. In West Africa, most of the sexual misconduct accusations are leveled against local NGO staff members.

This is appalling. Not only are the foreign UN officials and peacekeepers above the law, but they place their cloak of unaccountability around certain chosen locals as well. I'm embarrassed that the United States puts it's de facto stamp of approval on this nightmare everyday.

(via Inkwell)