The lack of UN managerial supervision to procure services for 65,000 peacekeeping troops deployed around the world is costing hundreds of millions of dollars to the organization, a UN official said Wednesday, according to DPA. The financial loss stemmed from inadequate internal controls, lack of managerial supervision and strategic guidance, overbudgeting or inflation of requirements, said Mark Mallock Brown, the chief of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's cabinet. He said "serious potential irregularities" have taken place between vendors, UN officials and governments in the business of supporting the deployment and rotation of military troops serving in the 16 peacekeeping operations in as many countries. "This is very alarming and merits urgent investigation," Mallock Brown told the UN Security Council convened for a special meeting to hear corrupt practices in the UN procurement related to peacekeeping. The current 16 peace missions cost over 2 billion dollars a year to governments, with the US paying 27 per cent of the bills.
