Humanitarian arm of Syrian opposition stumbles at audit hurdle
ISTANBUL - Auditors have been unable to trace $1 million in aid spending by Syria's Western-backed opposition, highlighting how hard it is to build viable alternatives to the institutions of President Bashar al-Assad's war-torn state.
The Syrian National Coalition set up the ACU as its humanitarian arm to coordinate efforts by a series of non-government organisations, UN bodies and local councils to tackle what has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Most of its $62 million revenue - a fraction of overall international aid to Syria - was donated by Qatar. The United Arab Emirates, UK, and United States have donated between $2 and $3 million each, preferring in-kind donations to cash.
