WS 09: E-mail to the Chair of the Committee from Julia Harris, BBC World Service and letter from Andrew Whitehead, Editor, News and Current Affairs, BBC World Service, published in the Guardian on Tuesday 9 March

 

Assignment programme on diversion of aid money for Ethiopia

Just in case you get approached on this subject, I thought I should send you the BBC World Service line on the 'Assignment' programme on the diversion of aid money broadcast on BBC World Service last week. As you may have noticed, concerns about editorial standards have been raised by Sir Bob Geldof and some charities, so I wanted to clarify exactly what was said on the programme.

The main point we are trying to get across is that the programme did not suggest that the larger part of overall famine relief funds was used improperly. The programme made clear that the assertion, by a once high-ranking TPLF figure now in exile, that 95% of the aid was diverted for other purposes, only applied to aid routed through the TPLF relief society, not 95% of all aid to Ethiopia.

This quote from Andy Whitehead, Editor News and Current Affairs for BBC World Service, taken from yesterday's Media Show on Radio 4 sums up our response:

"We did not suggest that relief agencies were complicit in the diversion of funds, we did not suggest that most relief aid was diverted, and we did not dispute that the generosity of the world in the mid-1980s saved thousands of lives and fed thousands of people in need."

The BBC maintains that this was a well researched programme and stands by the journalism.

I also attach a letter from Andy Whitehead, published in the Guardian on Tuesday 9 March which sets out the BBC's position. Further details can be found in the BBC Editors' blog. (Note: as this is regularly updated, you may need to scroll down-the title is Bob, Band Aid and how the rebels bought their arms); http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/

11 March 2010

 

Letter to The Guardian from Andrew Whitehead, Editor,

News and Current Affairs at the BBC World Service

 

It is important to be clear about what the BBC has reported (BBC stands firm over Ethiopia fund claim, 8 March). Last week's 'Assignment' documentary on the BBC World Service examined evidence that, in the mid-1980s, the main rebel group in Tigray in northern Ethiopia diverted relief aid from western donors to support its military campaign. It did not suggest that the larger part of overall famine relief funds was used improperly.

The critical response from relief agencies has focussed on a comment by Aregawi Berhe, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) military commander in the mid-1980s. He told the programme that the relief society connected to the TPLF received about $100 million dollars and that a decision was made that only 5% should be spent on helping famine victims. The balance, he said, was used to fund the TPLF and a linked political party. The programme made clear that the assertion that 95% of the aid routed through the TPLF relief society was diverted for other purposes was made by a once high-ranking TPLF figure, now in exile. It is entirely correct to report these comments. They relate only to aid for areas then held by TPLF rebels and not to the total famine relief effort for Ethiopia.

The evidence presented in the programme that relief aid was used for military purposes included the testimony of a second former senior member of the TPLF, as well as other interviews and information from contemporary documents. The Assignment also included the contesting accounts of two western aid workers. One stated: "If we were being conned, I think it was on a very small scale".

This was a well researched programme and the BBC stands by the journalism. We are happy to repeat that there is no suggestion that any relief agency was complicit in any diversion of funds.

 

8 March 2010