By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
UN GATE / SDNY, Dec 14 – Today's United Nations under Antonio Guterres abuses not only those it is supposed to help, such as women and children in the Central African Republic and Haiti, but even its own staff, here, in Lebanon.
Concerned UN staff there have reached out to Inner City Press, banned from the UN by Antonio Guterres for the 1358th day:
The saga of Lebanon continues. Many staff had hope of regaining their stolen monies by the Lebanese banking systems when in February 2021 the SG was asked during his global Town Hall by a staff representative if he would intervene. It is now December of the same year and with the SG visiting Lebanon there is in excess of 50 million dollars of UN staff members and retirees monies being illegally held ,stolen, by Lebanese banks. Staff see this as blatant theft and strongly believe the Secretary General should step in and represent those that work for him.
The political sensitivities of Lebanon mean that the UN and the secretive ICSC manipulate hardship classifications to ensure that duty stations are given higher classifications than they should, even though country management give clear evidence that life is not like living in Manhattan or Lisbon. Hospitals continue to close, many of the most senior and qualified surgeons have left for other countries and medicines from an aspirin to heart drugs are simply not available. You could end up taking your life in your hands if the power supplies are cut while undergoing surgery.
Grid power is sometimes for three hours a day, if lucky, and generator backups are inconsistent due to the severe shortages of fuel that the country faces. Amenities like fridges, freezers, heating, cooling, communication, and mobile systems all rely on electricity and for many, there is very little and sometimes none. Generator syndicates now have a new way to make life difficult for UN employees, they charge them double for half the service while the Secretary General does nothing. It seems UN employees are just in Lebanon to be abused for money and forgotten by those that live their lives in HQ locations.
The employees of the Secretary General have become money trees for whoever wants to abuse them, with no support as politics is more important than people. Roadblocks and armed disputes are an almost daily occurrence with fights over fuel, bread and medicines, family disputes are increasing as shortages and hunger take over. What is the SG doing to ensure his staff are at least looked after, safe and given access to their correct funds, at this time it seems to be nothing?
Between the politics, lack of action from the highest floors of the UN and the uncaring decisions of the ICSC, where the Chairperson is more concerned about politics than ensuring his good offices calculate allowances based on facts and not back door deals where there is zero transparency, the staff welfare and well-being have and continue to be totally ignored.. When talking to colleagues who work all over Lebanon there is one common thread of conversation, has the UN and more accurately Lebanon become a political tool for the SG and why does he not care for the most important asset he controls, the staff. From: A concerned staff member. Hopefully you can publish this .
But of course. Keep the information coming, and watch this site.
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