MSF probes allegations of sexual abuses in Africa
Medicins Sans Frontieres is looking into claims, reported by the BBC, about the behaviour of staff in Kenya, Liberia and Central Africa
London — Aid workers for charity Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) are alleged to have used prostitutes and bartered medicines for sex in Kenya, Liberia and Central Africa, a BBC report said on Thursday. The nongovernmental organisation said it took the allegations seriously but that it had been unable to confirm the claims, made by anonymous whistleblowers, and urged anyone with information to come forward. The BBC report made clear that the allegations were against logistics and support staff, and not doctors and nurses. A former employee based in MSF’s London office told the BBC she had seen a senior staff member bring girls back to MSF accommodation while posted in Kenya. "The girls were very young and rumoured to be prostitutes," she said, adding that it was "implicit" they were there for sex. She said some of the older, longstanding male workers took advantage of their positions. "I felt that, with some of the older guys, there was definitely an abuse of power," she said. "They’d ...
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