Former FAO director links contract non-renewal to Gaza criticism

Ben Davis, formerly the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality, says he was told in July that his contract would not be renewed over an alleged breach of impartiality rules.

Davis told AFP the allegations concerned weekly silent protests about starvation and famine in Gaza. He also said he was criticised over a report on food availability in Gaza and humanitarian law, published in May, and that staff were told to take it down.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu made public remarks about staff who opposed regulations, saying he would fire more people. Davis said he believed the comments referred to him, citing an earlier public reprimand for being too political.

Davis said the silent protests once drew hundreds of people and now attract about 30 to 40 each week. The supplied account does not include the FAO’s explanation for the non-renewal or independently establish the alleged impartiality breach.

The FAO did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.