US 'Must Ensure' Aid Contractors in Syria, Iraq Conduct Fraud Risk Assessments

The Department of State and US Agency for International Development (USAID) need to get humanitarian aid contractors they work with in Iraq and Syria to carry out fraud risk assessments, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The State Department and USAID have obligated more than $5.9 billion for the Syria response in fiscal years 2012 through 2016, officials told the GAO.

"We recommended that State and USAID require implementing partners to conduct fraud risk assessments and ensure that USAID field monitors are trained to identify potential fraud risks," the release stated on Tuesday.

The State Department and USAID concurred with the recommendation and planned to take some steps to mitigate fraud risk, the GAO acknowledged.

The State Department, USAID, and the Defense Department have also obligated over $1.1 billion for the Iraq response in fiscal years 2014 through 2016, the report noted.