On Haiti at UN, Dominican Dodging on Immigration, UNICEF on Staffing, IFAD to Forgive?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/haiti1sdstaff012210.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- The UN in New York was full of Haiti news on Friday, some of it misleading, other "off the record." At the day's noon briefing, by video hook up from Haiti Carlos Morales Troncoso, Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, bragged to the Press about his government's help to Haiti.

Inner City Press asked about the blocking of sick Haitians, including infants, at the Dominican border. I haven't seen that report, Morales Troncoso replied. Video here, from Minute 25:57.

Later on Friday there was a briefing by UNICEF about Haiti, but it remained unclear what information could be used by the press. UNICEF spokesman Chris De Bono introduced an official who could not, it seemed, be named.

Inner City Press asked de Bono on the record why UNICEF had not been able to lead the water and sanitation cluster after the earthquake.

De Bono replied that UNICEF had only ten international staff in country on the day of the earthquake, but was able to take over the WASH cluster by "day two."

Inner City Press asked how many staff UNICEF has there now. De Bono said he didn't know, to email him for the answer. Inner City Press did, but as of 10 p.m., with a fundraiser on network television benefiting UNICEF among others, no response had been provided on how many staff UNICEF has in Haiti. Even five days later, the figures were not provided by UNICEF's de Bono.

Appearing with Ban Ki-moon on January 21, Bill Clinton was asked to which charities people should give. Only those with big presences in Haiti, Bill Clinton replied. So it would seem UNICEF should be able to say how many staff it had and has in Haiti. Inner City Press has also asked UNICEF about its operations in Sri Lanka and Somalia.

Finally, a day after Inner City Press asked a question about the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development and its outstanding loans to Haiti, would the loans be forgiven? On January 22, spokesman Martin Nesirky said

"you asked a question, Matthew, yesterday, about the debt repayments by Haiti. The Secretary-General, of course, welcomes any efforts to ease financial burdens placed on Haitians. As for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, it says it has supported, and is supporting, rural and agricultural development in Haiti through seven loans, for a total amount of $90 million on highly concessional terms. Six of these loans are now completed and closed. And they’re covered by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries relief initiative, and consequently, the debt repayments are covered by debt relief. There is one loan not covered by that initiative, and repayments for this loan will not start before 2018. The Fund is now reviewing its approach towards these repayments with a view to call on its Member States to assist in directly supporting Haiti with further relief."

We'll see. Inner City Press also asked, but Mr. Nesirky did not answer, about the material assistance the UN provides to bereaved families of international and national staff members:

Inner City Press: Can you either state now, or at the next briefing or in between, what material assistance is being provided to the families of those UN staff, both international and national, who perished in Haiti? And whether the benefits are the same, the material assistance? How, you know, between these two groups. And just what the number…? I’ve heard that [it’s] Schedule D of the benefits package, but I’d like to know what it is.

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’m sure you would. And I’m sure that more than you, the family members would like to know. And that is being worked on very intensively, and it’s something that occupies the mind of many people, not least the Secretary-General.

Inner City Press: But isn’t there a standard, I mean, isn’t there a UN policy? What I’m asking for is the policy, not actually what, what… You see what I mean?

Spokesperson: Yes, I do understand. This has to do with insurance and other matters, and that’s being looked into very closely by the right people in Field Support, in the Department of Management, Department of Human Resources Management.

Inner City Press: Sure. When a decision is made, you’ll…?

Spokesperson: The question of payments of whatever kind to family members or those who were injured is really a matter for them, between the United Nations and them. The principle that you refer to, of course, is something that we would want to make public.

Inner City Press: Isn’t it a public…? I mean, it’s a public organization.

Spokesperson: That’s what I’m saying. The principle is very clear. It’s a matter of public interest, you’re absolutely right. And on the principle, we will make it clear what’s going on. But, the details are something for the family members.

Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/haiti1sdstaff012210.html

EU's Ashton "Concerned" By Rights in Sri Lanka, On Election, No UN Ban Follow Up

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/lanka5elections012210.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- The European Union's new High Commissioner Catherine Ashton appeared at the UN on Friday, and was asked by Inner City Press about Sri Lanka in the run up to elections, and about the GSP Plus tariff reduction program, whether the EU would curtail it for Sri Lanka. Video here, from Minute 4:05.

Baroness Ashton responded that, while she was Trade Commissioner, GSP Plus had been a concern. "If we have a scheme, where we award the way we operate directly because of... treatment of people and human rights, if that falls short, it should be re-examined."

She said that she was "very concerned" and had recommended that GPS Plus benefits for Sir Lanka "perhaps should be reconsidered."

She did not, however, comment on violence in the run up to the January 26 election, nor on reports that Mahinda Rajapaksa has required cell phone companies to send out text messages supporting him.

Inner City Press had asked if the UN's Ban Ki-moon had any view on the pre-election violence and intimidation. Days later, Ban's spokesman read out a statement that Ban remains concerned. But since the statement, a major opposition supporter's house has been attacked with hand grenades. At least five are dead and dozens injured. And from Ban, nothing.

His spokesman wouldn't even allow a question on January 22:

Inner City Press: Can I ask one more?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I’d like, actually, to see if there are others, and I think I would ask Jean-Victor to join us. Just please do join. But, one thing I did want to respond to was, you asked a question, Matthew, yesterday...

He then gave an answer on Haiti, the topic to which the UN has sought to confine question for ten days now. And on and after the Sri Lankan election? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/lanka5elections012210.html

At UN, Nigerian Minister Dodges Heat on His Mandate, Aid to Myanmar Regime, Tax and Parking Tickets: on Auto Pilot

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1nigeria012210.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- Nigerian Foreign Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe brought a $1.5 million check for Haiti to the UN's Ban Ki-moon in New York on Friday. Afterwards Inner City Press asked him about Nigeria's previous bilateral grant of $500,000 to the military government in Myanmar, months after Cyclone Nargis hit that country.

What had changed Nigeria's policy, and what follow up had there been on the Myanmar regime's use of the $500,000? Video here, from Minute 6:22.

Ojo Maduekwe said the money had gone straight to Myanmar's government so as to be a "speedy response." But it was months after the cyclone. Here, Ojo Maduekwe here, the Secretary General made a flash appeal. But that was also true in Myanmar. Click here for Inner City Press' first, exclusive story.

Ojo Maduekwe said, "it's not that what we did last time was wrong, just that we're improving."

Inner City Press asked if the Minister had spoken with his President at all during the weeks he has been in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Video here, from Minute 5:35. Ojo Maduekwe said no, he had not been able to speak with the President, but he feels he is carrying out his policies.

Later on Friday, as Inner City Press moderated a second session of Ojo Maduekwe with reporters, asked how Ojo Maduekwe could thus claim to have a mandate, adding that he had supported Sani Abacha.

Ojo Maduekwe called the question disrespectful and said he would not answer it. But see video here. Inner City Press, as moderator, re-phased the questioOmoyele Soworen, and asked Ojo Maduekwe to answer. He did, at length, arguing that while picked by the President, he represents his region, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Not allowed was this question: if Sudan's Omar al Bashir visited, who would decided to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant or not?

Inner City Press asked Ojo Maduekwe if he had discussed with Ban Ki-moon the violence at Jos, and the plight of Nigerians in the Bakassi Peninsula. Ojo Maduekwe said that the crackdown in Jos showed that mediation by the government is over, now it is about law, order and punishment.

Citing the reported extra judicial execution of the leader of Boko Haram (No Western Education), Inner City Press asked if any human rights investigation had been done. "Same answer," Ojo Maduekwe said, adding, "due process."

On Bakassi, he praised Cameroon's president's response and said he would be meetin with him next week. But what about the UN's role? The question was asked recently by the Press at a UN noon briefing, but never answered.

Footnote: Inner City Press also asked Ojo Maduekwe about the back parking tickets and real estate taxes the Nigerian Mission and diplomats in New York own, click here for Inner City Press' previous story.

Ojo Maduekwe on camera said his Permanent Representative Ms. Joy Ogwu would briefing him and Nigeria will "do what is right" after "I take administrative action." Video here, from Minute 8:41.

Later on Monday he called it an administrative matter and referred another reporter to the Mission, where they channel the questions to their lawyer. What was that again, about doing what is right? Watch this site.

In front of the Nigerian Misssion on Friday morning was a protest, of the "missing" President. "If you see him, call 1-800," a toll free number, one sign said. Next door on 44th and 2nd is a soup cart run by Azim of Afghanistan, with tasty lamb and lentil soup for four dollars, bread included. If Azim pays his taxes in the City of New York, why can't Nigeria?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1nigeria012210.html

At UN, Kosovo Debate Ends with a Flush and a Cough, Last One Turn the Lights Out

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/icj2kosovo012210.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 22 -- When Kosovo comes before the UN Security Council these days, each time it is with more and more of a whimper. Friday Serbian President Boris Tadic, in the Chamber, spoke darkly of a "final solution" being imposed on northern Kosovo. But he declined to speak to the press when he emerged.

His entourage prepared to leave, then turned back into the UN. When the Press tried to follow the entourage into the now empty Delegates' Lounge, a Serb Mission staffer stood in the way. You cannot come in, she said, later clarifying that Tadic was only using the bathroom. "Then he has to leave, to come to our party then fly back to Belgrade."

Meanwhile, Kosovo's Skender Hyseni, after lowering the UN microphone to his height, ridiculed Tadic's arguments. Inner City Press asked about Tadic's statement that elections not called by the UN Mission, UNMIK, are illegal. Hyseni said that the authorities in Belgrade have also opposed any election called by UNMIK. Video here, from Minute 7:36.

Inner City Press asked about Tadic's remark that the International Civilian Office under Peter Feith is trying to impose a "final solution." Hyseni wouldn't repeat the phrase, calling it a "final whatever," and saying it would be "irrational" to comment on that. He said the ICO is a "European accredited mission to Kosovo." Then, coughing, he left the stakeout. The UN's Special Representative never appears, and no Council member came and spoke to the Press.

Meanwhile, while the case of Kosovo is pending in the International Court of Justice, three more countries have recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo: New Zealand, Mauritania and Malawi.

As Tadic put it, that still means that 127 nations respect Serbia's territorial integrity. But for how long? Especially when Serbia doesn't make its case to the press? Minister Vuk Jeremic was there in the entourage, fresh from profile in the Grey Lady, but didn't want to upstage his President. But he shouldn't have let Hyseni upstage him either. Strange diplomacy.

Footnote: during the Council debate, multiple references were made to whether Serbs in northern Kosovo pay their electricity bills, and to whom. The privatization of Kosovo Electricity, however, was not discussed.... In the emptying UN, last one here, turn the lights out.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/icj2kosovo012210.html

UNV Job of Choi Young-kin's Nephew in Ivory Coast Was Falsely Denied or Evaded, Ban Ki-moon Nepotism Questions Still Pending

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/uncote1nephew012110.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- At what point does a misleading answer become a lie? On the topic of nepotism in the UN, a whistleblower back from Ivory Coast told Inner City Press of the employment in that country by the UN system of the nephew of Mr. Choi Young-jin, the Special Representative of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Inner City Press approached Mr. Ban's deputy chief of staff but was told he'd never heard of it. By email in late 2009, Inner City Press told Mr. Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky that

"I asked Mr. Nambiar's deputy about something I'm told, that the nephew of the SRSG to Cote d'Ivoire has been employed in Cote d'Ivoire by UN Volunteers. I had sought Mr. Choi's email address to ask him directly, but it unlike other SRSGs it is not available. Therefore I am asking your Office about Mr. Choi's relatives, specifically including but not limited to his nephew: 1) are they or have they been in Cote d'Ivoire? 2) if so, in some UN system (including UN Volunteers) capacity? Which capacity, what dates and one what basis? "

The response from Mr. Nesirky's office was, "Regarding SRSG Choi Yong-jin, please contact Hamadoun Toure in UNOCI, or Kenneth Blackman." While this seemed strange, Inner City Press sent the request to the UNOCI mission in Cote d'Ivoire, sending a copy to Mr. Nesirky.

Twelve days later, UNOCI's spokesman Hamadoun Toure replied that "To the best of my knowledge, SRSG Choi is the only international civilian staff from Korea in the mission." Of course, this evades the question -- intentionally, as it turns out.

Inner City Press immediate wrote back to UNOCI and Mr. Nesirky, that the "source states that SRSG Choi's relative was with UN Volunteers in Cote d'Ivoire, not UNOCI. And the question was and is not limited, unlike your answer, to the present tense," and reiterating the question. This was not responded to.

Rather, when Mr. Choi went to the Security Council stakeout on January 21, Inner City Press after asking about controversies further delaying the long promised Ivorian elections asked Mr. Choi, with all due respect, if his nephew worked for UN Volunteers in Cote d'Ivoire.

Yes, Mr. Choi answered, "my spokesman told me one month ago [so] I looked into... I have an American nephew" -- a graduate of Harvard, he emphasized -- who had left a well paying investment banking job to apply to work in Cote d'Ivoire through UN Volunteers, from "early 2008 to December 2008." Video here, from Minute 11:14.

Since Inner City Press' question, to Mr. Nesirky and then ONOCI specifically mentioned UN Volunteers, this makes the answer given false, seemingly intentionally so. Clearly, the evasive answer sent to Inner City Press, that "SRSG Choi is the only international civilian staff from Korea in the mission" was designed to not disclose what Mr. Choi had been asked about, and had "looked into."

Inner City Press asked Mr. Choi, again with all due respect, if he believed his nephew working for the UN system in the country where he is the top UN official complied with UN rules.

Yes, Mr. Choi responded, because UN Volunteers has a different recruitment and decision making structure.

Less than an hour later, Inner City Press asked Mr. Nesirky how this arrangement complied with UN rules. Nesirky gave the same answer, the UN Peacekeeping Missions have no say over UN Volunteers.

But as Inner City Press has been told by UN Peacekeeping sources, with the UN spokespeople being unwilling to confirm, Alan Doss, now the SRSG in the Congo (embroiled in his own nepotism scandal having told UNDP to "show leeway" by giving a job to his daughter) but then the SRSG in Liberia, brought in close family members as part of UN Volunteers.

Inner City Press began to ask Nesirky about this, but was cut off.

Nepotism questions have been raised, always with respect, to and about Ban Ki-moon himself, specifically the hiring of his son in law Siddarth Chatterjee, first by Stafan de Mistura in Iraq -- who's now in line to become Ban's envoy to Afghanistan -- then by Jan Mattsson at UNOPS in Copenhagen. Since 2009, Inner City Press has had pending with Mr. Nesirky a simple question:

"This is a request for a response to the circulated report that 'Ban Ki-moon's Son-in-Law, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee... was a P4 employee with the United Nations. If Ban Ki Moon would not be his father-in-law, it would have taken him 12.5 years to reach to the level he is today.' Also, relatedly, please state from where the S-G's son in law Mr. Chatterjee got his degree(s), and the status of his case(s) with [name redacted for now]."

Nesirky has repeatedly refused to answer this question. Now that the response to which he referred Inner City Press about Mr. Choi turned out to be false, seemingly intentionally so, isn't it time to come clean? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/uncote1nephew012110.html

At UN, Haiti Spun from Katrina, Clinton Supports Royal Caribbean Resort Cruise

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/haiti1cruise012110.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 21 -- The spin machine at the UN kicked into high gear on Thursday. At the day's noon briefing, Spokesman Martin Nesirky took issue with a comparison between Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's response to the Haitian earthquake and George W. Bush's to Hurricane Katrina.

Nesirky said that while Mr. Ban had been at a retreat with regional organizations on Long Island when the earthquake hit, he was told of the event as soon as his car pulled up at his residence.

Inner City Press asked if the UN would confirm or deny that its "peacekeepers drove past armed looters without intervening." Nesirky did not deny it, preferring to defend Ban's personal response.

Then how about UN staff complaining that emergency psychological counseling for survivors wasn't offered, in some cases, for four days? (Other UN staff have complained to Inner City Press that even for the now over sixty UN staff confirmed as dead, their names and numbers are still in the UN's online phone directory.) These things happen, Nesirky in essence said. A phrase heard after a certain New Orleans storm.

Bill Clinton spoke to the Press in the UN's new building later Thursday afternoon. He spoke about businesses, specifically praising the "Irish businessman" who run the cell phone company on Haiti. Ban Ki-moon said he's asked for Clinton's help on "Cash for Food." As described by UNDP, this will pay Haitians five dollars a day to work.

Inner City Press asked UNDP's new Associate Director -- the Costa Rican Rebecca Grynspan, chosen by Ban and UNDP's Helen Clark with some controversy over candidates from the African Group, which said it had been promised the position -- how the sufficiency of five dollars a day had been decided. She replied that one wouldn't want to distort or destroy the Haitian market.

In a controversy on which the UN Spokesperson did not take questions, Bill Clinton supported Royal Caribbean lines, whose decision to continue to bring cruises into the Labadee resort has been criticized. In fact, Clinton said, the airport should be re-opened so that the resorts can continue. Video here, from Minute 10:20. It's (not) party time, said one wag in the crowd.

In the basement of the UN's old, nearly empty building, top humanitarian John Holmes spoke to the Press. Initially it was announced as an appearance by Holmes and a single Ambassador, Alejandro Wolff of the United States. But shortly before the stakeout was held, the Ambassadors of France, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay and Haiti were added. Belated balance.

A question not allowed was why the UN's web site assigns dollar values to the U.S.' search and rescue (and "administrative costs") while declining to do so for other countries, including several of those beside Holmes on Thursday. Click here for Inner City Press' first exclusive story, here. We aim to report more on this, watch this site.

Footnote: despite reports of Haiti rejecting the Dominican Republic's offer of troops, Haiti's Ambassador said that an announcement will be made "later" in this "sensitive" subject. We'll be on the lookout.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/haiti1cruise012110.html

As UN and US Work With Sri Lankan Soldiers in Haiti, UK Funded Study Downplays Carnage in Lanka and Congos

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/lanka6warcrimes012010.html

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20, updated Jan 21 with feedback -- Even as the UN speaks and double speaks about accountability and impunity following Sri Lanka's "bloodbath on the beach," the UN in Haiti is working with battalion of Sri Lanka's military, which overall has been accused of war crimes.

The UN's Edmond Mulet, speaking to the Press by video hook up from Haiti on January 19, said that in Leogane, "we" -- the UN -- "have the Sri Lankan troops." Video here, from Minute 19:06. UN official Tim Callaghan, on press conference calls from Haiti, has described the US as working with the Sri Lankan battalion.

Inner City Press has repeatedly asked how the UN screens the supposed peacekeepers it accepts from Sri Lanka, without answer. Given the US State Department's own Office of War Crimes report on Sri Lanka, by Stephen Rapp, one wonders what due diligence the US is using.

Meanwhile the UK, along with Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, have funded a story calls "The Shrinking Costs of War," which downplays the impact of civilians of wars in Sri Lanka as well as the Congo.

Simon Fraser University Professor Andrew Mack, the author's study, said that post Cold War conflicts are smaller and less deadly, and chided the media for only being interested when major powers are involved. Video here, from Minute 25:12.

The Sri Lankan conflict in early 2009 was undercovered by most international media. But in fact "major power" China had provided much of the weaponry, and the Security Council veto to block any discussion of the carnage.

The UK, faced with Tamil protests, said it wanted a debate, but accepted closed door basement sessions.

Later its then Ambassador John Sawers told the Press that while the votes were there to put Sri Lanka on the Council's agenda -- where it would still be -- it was decided that unanimity of the Council, including for use on other issues, was more important.

On January 20, Inner City Press asked UK Deputy Ambassador Philip John Parham if the UK was happy with the findings of the study that it funded, downplaying carnage in the Congo and Sri Lanka. Parham said he hadn't yet read the report, but that it might be useful.

Now there are killings in the run up to the snap election, belatedly commented on by the UN. China has gained access to swaths of south Sri Lanka, bringing in its own laborers and continuing its "String of Pearls" military strategy. The UK and US have backed down. France's then Ambassador John Maurice Ripert repeated portrayed the slaughter as anti-terrorism. His successor Gerard Araud has not been heard on the topic.

(Nor has Sawers' successor Mark Lyall Grant, who alone of the Western P-3 has taken no questions at the stakeout yet this year. He speaks off the record to select reporters, like Araud with one exception.)

Ban Ki-moon has still done nothing, on UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston's call that he send a commission of inquiry to Sri Lanka. Pro government media there gloat that Ban "distanced himself" from Alston. That he did. Watch this site.

Update of January 21 -- a reader a submitted the following reminder:

Subj: Lankans in Haiti
From: [Name withheld in this format]
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 1/21/2010 8:33:02 A.M. Eastern Standard Time

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for trying to bring the atrocities of the Lankan govt into the spotlight again. I just wanted to give you one more point on the issue of Lankan's involvement in Haiti. It's ironic that they are allowed to work in the same place from where they were kicked out for sexually abusing underage children, just a few years back. The [Reuters version of] story is at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02591186.htm

Thanks for the reminder. The above-linked Reuters story quotes then UN spokesperson Michele Montas, who is now back in Haiti, most recently beamed by video link from the UN's "Logistics Base" by the Port au Prince airport offering a critique of media coverage, that "There is a question of some underage girls," she added. Montas said Sri Lanka would take further action against those accused of abuse. "They are back under national jurisdiction. So far Sri Lanka has said ... that they are going to be prosecuted in Sri Lanka." One wonders if she has or will follow up on this. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/lanka6warcrimes012010.html

On Haiti, While US Says $70M of Obama's $100M Through UN, US Overhead Costs Listed When Other Countries' Are Not

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/usocha1haiti012010.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20 -- How aid to Haiti is being accounted for appears unclear. The UN has asked for $562 million; US President Barack Obama has announced $100 million in American aid. Inner City Press has asked both the UN and US whether Obama's $100 million will be part of the UN's $562 million flash appeal, and has received three different answers, none consistent with the UN web site.

Inner City Press asked Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff, who said on camera at the Security Council stakeout that "the one hundred million dollars that have been announced is bilateral contributions to the Haitian Government. We will also be contributing a significant amount to the Flash Appeal, which should be announced shortly." Video here, from Minute 4:24.

Later, to its credit, the US Mission to the UN called Inner City Press and said this was not correct, that in fact $70 million of the $100 million announced by President Obama would be part of the UN flash appeal. For this proposition, the US Mission helpfully sent a link to the UN web site.

The difficulty is that the UN's "List of all commitments / contributions and pledges as of 20 January, 2010," numerous US pledges and expenditures are listed and counted, some of which are explicitly labeled "bilateral," and $36 million of which are USFEMA search and rescue. Click here for the UN link, here for copy saved by Inner City Press as it appeared on the afternoon of January 20, 2010.

Listed by the UN for the United States --

United States of America USAID 50,000 0

United States of America USAID Administrative costs 70,930 0

To provide three Dominican Public Hospitals

near the Haiti border crossing at Jiman with

medications and supplies

United States of America USAID 1,000,000 0

United States of America USAID Logistics and relief supplies 1,350,000 0

United States of America USDOD Logistics and relief items 1,500,000 0

United States of America WHO Basic health services 5,000,000 0

United States of America IOM to be allocated to specific projects 7,000,000 0

United States of America USAID Logistics and relief supplies 7,893,641 0

United States of America WFP to be allocated to specific projects 10,000,000 0

United States of America USDHHS Health (USAID/OFDA) 13,000,000 0

United States of America USFEMA Search and rescue (USAID/OFDA) 36,000,000 0

United States of America WFP Food aid 48,000,000 0

The listings for China, by contrast, includes $4.4 million for "humanitarian aid, including medicines, tents, food, emergency lights, clothing and water," but puts no value for China's search and rescue effort -- ''50-member rescue team; three
sniffer dogs" -- which came by air from China less than three hours after the earthquake. Similar flights and food from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the UAE, South Africa, "Taiwan (Province of China)" and Canada are also given zero value as of January 20.

Canada's "Disaster Emergency Response Team deployed to Haiti; C-17 aircraft full of medical aid and a pair of search and rescue helicopters" is, as of January 20, valued at zero by the UN. So are 60 Cuban doctors. For France Morocco and South Korea, on the other hand, every listed item is given a dollar value.

On January 20, Inner City Press asked top UN humanitarian John Holmes about this. Before the press conference monitor cut the questions off, Holmes said that "we depend on member states to give us [information]...they will decide, they don't give to us." Video here, from Minute 23:31.

To a skeptic it appears that both the UN and the Obama Administration want to make it appear that unlike previously, the US is now working through the UN. But the American funds listed on the UN web site, to which the US Mission to the UN referred Inner City Press, are nearly entirely bilateral, or even simply US expenditures on, apparently, its own administrative costs ($70,930).

Back on January 15, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon if there would be an independent watchdog -- to audit and report on how aid is spent, and if donors following through on their loud pledges.

Mr. Ban replied that "there needs to be some transparency as well as accountability on how this money should be effectively and properly used. That we will discuss later."

That "later," it would seem, has arrived. The time is now.

Footnote: also listed by the UN as contribution are tabacconist Philip Morris' parent company Altria, multi level marketing concern Amway, the "Build a Bear Workshop Foundation," $3000 from Burger King, Dollar General Corporation, food speculator Cargill, Go Daddy -- a cynic wondered, why not Moussa Dadis Camara?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/usocha1haiti012010.html

UN Loses Focus on Darfur, Pushes to Silence Questions of it Climate Change Role

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ban1darfurcc012010.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20, updated -- Darfur, which along with climate change used to be called the UN's and Ban Ki-moon's top priorities, has fallen further by the roadside.

Days ago, the UN's own broadcaster in Sudan, Miraya FM, reported that "the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)-Abdul Wahid Nour Faction called on the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to intervene and rescue civilians from aerial bombings [by the] Sudan Armed Forces in Kutum, North Darfur."

At UN headquarters in New York, Mr. Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky has for the past week resisted in noon briefings taking any questions except about Haiti, telling Inner City Press "today I'm sticking to Haiti." So Inner City Press asked UN top peacekeeper Alain Le Roy about the Darfur report, at the end of a briefing on Haiti on January 18, but has yet to receive any answer.

On January 20, Mr. Nesirky said he would at last take non Haiti question. Inner City Press asked about Darfur and climate change (but was cut off from asking if the UN is doing anything about the 400 killed and 4000 displaced in ethnic and religious clashes in Jos, Nigeria. Ironically, subsequent to this cut-off, the UN Secretariat prepared, approved and issued a canned statement on Nigeria, here.)

Of the Darfur report, by the UN's own radio station and on its ReliefWeb.int, Nesirky said he hasn't heard of it. On climate change, when Inner City Press asked about a quote in the UK Guardian by top US climate negotiator Jonathan Pershing that it is "impossible to imagine a negotiation of enormous complexity where you have a table of 192 countries involved in all the detail."

Nesirky responded that Mr. Ban had seen the Guardian interview, and that Pership had been contacted and said he was misquoted. The Guardian, however, has not run any correction, and it is unclear if Pershing or the UN has requested one.

Inner City Press would have asked, but Nesirky insisted that no further questions could be asked at the briefing. (He said it could be asked afterwards, but as noted he has left unanswered for weeks numerous questions Inner City Press has emailed to him, and even some asked during the briefings this year.)

Inner City Press would also have asked, on Sudan, about the death sentences just imposed on JEM rebels for the attack on Omdurman, on the "sacking" of numerous governors in the run up to an election the UN said it cared about, as well as other questions -- but Mr. Nesirky permitted no more questions, even after a week.

Since the UN says it was able to procure a statement by Pershing that his seemingly anti-UN statement was misquoted, one wonders if the UN saw one of its Darfur experts on Al Jazeera last week, calling "extremist" those who say that Omar al Bashir should actually being put on trial in The Hague, where he has been indicted. Is that now UN policy? Or is the UN just not paying attention? Watch this site.

Update of Jan 20, 6 p.m. -- better late than never, two days after asking, then after a second ask, this was provided:

Subj: Re: Follow-up on your questions
From: DPKO at UN.org
To: Inner City Press
Sent: 1/20/2010 5:51:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Matthew - Here is information from DPKO concerning Darfur:

Following reports of fighting between GoS forces and SLA/AW fighters around Insuru area on 16 January, UNAMID team conducted a security assessment patrol to the area on 17 January. The team visited the scene of attack at Furoge village (40km northwest of Kutum) and interacted with the SLA/AW commanders and locals who reported that on 16 January, at about 12:00 hours, GoS military supported by Arab Militia from Dowa (13km northwest of Kutum) and Birmaza (53km northwest of Kutum) launched an attack at Furoge market area. During the attack, 15 locals were reported killed and 20 others injured. On 18 January, UNAMID Team Site in Kutum carried out humanitarian assistance in the area and offered medical treatment to critically injured patients at Furuge Clinic. The team site also plans to supply water to residents of Furuge.

We'll have more on this, watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban1darfurcc012010.html