PARIS, June 15 (Bernama-dpa) — Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has dismissed 18 members of staff because of allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of Sudanese refugees, a spokeswoman for the Paris-based aid group told dpa on Tuesday.
The incidents reportedly took place in eastern Chad, MSF said.
Doctors Without Borders said several women and minors who fled Sudan had made allegations against staff of the aid organisation.
An internal investigation conducted at the end of 2024 identified a total of 59 allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, involving employees, day labourers and external service providers, MSF said.
The aid agency said not all allegations could be substantiated because in some cases neither the alleged victim nor the suspected perpetrator could be identified. In cases where serious wrongdoing was found, disciplinary action was taken.
“This behaviour represents a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities and we sincerely regret the serious harm caused,” the aid organisation said in a statement.
It said it was working to improve prevention, detection and responses to assaults.
The organisation acknowledged gaps in its recruitment process, saying people had not been sufficiently vetted before being given a job.
At the same time, MSF said the conditions of emergency work with refugees also increased the risk of exploitation, with limited resources, a vulnerable population and a particularly large power imbalance.
A bloody civil war has been raging in Sudan for more than three years, with more than 11 million people fleeing within the country and to neighbouring states such as Chad.
— BERNAMA-dpa