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Whistleblowers say Medecins Sans Frontieres staffs used prostitutes in Africa

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 21 Jun 2018, 06:22 am Print

Whistleblowers say Medecins Sans Frontieres staffs used prostitutes in Africa

London: Use of local prostitutes by staffs at international charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) are rampant, whistleblowers told the BBC Victoria Derbyshire programme recently.

Preferring anonymity, the whistleblowers said that while doctors and nurses didn't indulge in such vices, it was done by logistical staffs, who would bring young girls back to the MSF facility.

Engaging in sexual activities with prostitutes is strictly banned by the charity under its code of conduct.

A former employee told the programme that she was witness to such predatory behaviour during her stint in Kenya.

"The girls were very young and rumoured to be prostitutes," she said.

"My colleague, who was staying in the same residence for a long time, felt that this was a regular occurrence," she said.

She added that the older staffs also used their power to exploit the women.

"I felt that, with some of the older guys, there was definitely an abuse of power. They'd been there for a long time and took advantage of their exalted status as a Western aid worker," she said.

"There's definitely a feeling that certain predatory men were seen as too big to fail.

"You would often see men who were older, middle-aged, partying with much younger local girls. It was sexualised," the whistleblower added.

Another whistleblower said that she herself was the victim of torture.

Recounting the horror, she said, "[One colleague] really made my life miserable."

"He really tortured me and brought prostitutes back in front of me.

"The worst bit came when I left for a few weeks and came back to my room and found used condoms that he told people he's deliberately left behind. I felt sick," she said.

The woman further added that after reporting the incident to her boss, she was told to either sort out the differences with her colleague or face the axe.

MSF UK has since aplogised for any inconvenience caused by its staffs to others.

Vickie Hawkins, executive director of MSF UK, told the BBC: "While we have reporting mechanisms in place where complaints can be made, we know we need to do more to ensure that they are known, trusted and used by the people who need them."

Several other women have said that while they reported such incidents to higher authorities, justice still remains far fetched.

MSF's work culture has also been deemed toxic by former employees.

Earlier this year, British charity Oxfam landed itself in hot waters after allegations of sexual harassment against its staffs surfaced.

MSF too had then admitted sacking 19 staffs relating to sexual abuse.

 

Image: twitter.com/MSFNairobi