(October 15, 2010) New figures show that most of the foreign aid money sent to East Timor is not actually spent inside the country.

In another telling sign of the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of foreign aid programs, a recent report suggests that a majority of the aid sent to the impoverished country of East Timor is not actually spent in the country. According President Jose Ramos-Horta, more than 70% of the development aid given to the country goes to foreign consultants and experts.

Local NGO, La’o Hamutuk, says that the amount of foreign aid not being spent in the country may, in fact, be much higher than the president maintains. It contends that as little as one-tenth of all foreign aid—including the cost of a U.N. special mission—given to the country since 1999 was spent in East Timor.

The NGO says that amounts to $0.15 per person per day.

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