Massive corruption taints tsunami relief

Massive corruption taints tsunami relief
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, April 16 (UPI) --

Widespread corruption is draining tsunami relief donations 16 months after a the massive wave rocked Asia, killing more than 200,000 people.

Millions of dollars were raised virtually overnight as worldwide charity aimed to stave off disease and enforce quality water supplies.

In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, worst-hit by the tsunami, survivors are still living in tents because money raised to rebuild their homes and lives was diverted to scoundrels' pockets, The Sunday Times of London reports.

Only 15,000 of the 170,000 homes that were supposed to be built have gone up.

Some money went to mere shacks that wouldn't be able to resist a strong storm, let alone another tsunami.

Because of the corruption, mostly from contractors, the Indonesian government has spent only 10.4 percent of the money allocated to relief efforts, The Sunday Times said.

Akhiruddin Mahjuddin, an accountant for the Aceh Anti-Corruption Movement, has a list of 15 contractors that bilked most of the money.

The two charity's hit hardest by corruption are Save the Children and Oxfam.

Akhiruddin's group is seen as a quality source for information on the extent of tsunami aid corruption.

"We calculate that 30 percent to 40 percent of all the aid funds, Indonesian and international, have been tainted by graft," said Akhiruddin.

http://tinyurl.com/pyp54 bravenet

They say 30% to 40% has been 'tainted by graft'. I'd say that their 'taint level' is on the 'low side'. I said when the world was pouring money into this area and the US was being kicked in the teeth for 'not giving enough' that over 50% of all monies would be stolen. I still hold to 50% as being the bottom end of the 'graft factor' and it could go much higher. We should not have given one red cent as our money could have been better 'spent in America on Americans!'