MSF dismisses staffers for alleged abuse of Sudan refugees

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) admits some staff members and external contractors were the subjects of 59 allegations of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, in relation to Sudanese refugees who had fled the civil war in search of safety. Young girls were exploited in some cases, and often food or jobs were offered in exchange for sex, but an MSF investigation could not verify all 59 allegations, reports BBC News. The offences were committed in eastern Chad and date back to 2024, about a year into Sudan's still-raging civil war. MSF says it has sacked 18 culprits but told the AP news agency it was unable to identify some of the other alleged perpetrators. The aid organisation also found patterns of exploitation that might amount to ‘sexual trafficking’, its own internal report suggested in July. Some of the victims reportedly chose not to speak out about the abuse because they feared access to vital aid would be withheld in retaliation. Those who did report the abuse sometimes received no reply or support, MSF has admitted in its own report, while official complaints procedures were mostly ineffective. Sudan plunged into civil war three years ago following a vicious power struggle between its army and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces.