Mayors may have faked flood victim census: Governor

[Judi Lynn]

Mayors may have faked flood victim census: Governor
Monday, 28 February 2011 09:41 Hannah Aronowitz

The governor of the north Colombian Magdalena department says the Civil Defense agency has found "possible irregularities" on the part of the mayors who conducted the census of flood victims of last year's rainy season, Caracol Radio reported Monday.

Some mayors may have inflated the list of victims in order to receive more aid, explained the governor, retired General Manuel Jose Bonnet.

"I heard that some mayors conducted bad censuses with some surveys including errors such as including cabinet members or municipal council members , or other irregular acts," said the official.

Bonnet said he is awaiting the official report on the status of victims and the recipients of aid from the Civil Defense to assess the extent of the irregularities. Once he receives this, he hopes to continue with "Operation Orange," an initiative that will deliver packages of food, hygiene kits and rental subsidies to victims in the 14 municipalities affected by the harsh winter weather.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/14630-mayors-may-have-falsified-flood-census-to-increase-aid-governor.html

[Wilms]

1. Fraud stalks relief efforts.

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