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Sorious Samura

Hidden Camera Exposes Corruption

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Natalie McGarry
Topics: Informal Economy, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Governance
Countries: Sierra Leone
It's children like these girls that may never recieve the free medicine from aid groups like Unicef, because of the thriving black market. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travlr/83146114/">Travlr (flickr)</a>
It's children like these girls that may never recieve the free medicine from aid groups like Unicef, because of the thriving black market. Photo: Travlr (flickr)

BBC investigative reporter Sorious Samura uses a hidden camera to confront pharmacists selling Unicef-provided drugs distributed by Unicef in Sierra Leone. The drugs were intended to be distributed free of charge. When he tries to ask citizena how the pharmacists could sell medicines intended to be distributed for free, they appear confused: “We don’t have any medicine that is free here.”

This is one instance of corruption that Samura cites in his accompanying opinion piece raising questions about the value of aiding Africa and how much corruption distorts the good intentions of donors.

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