Written by: Badr Ahmed

Doctors Without Borders announced on Monday that it had dismissed 18 employees for serious misconduct following investigations that accused dozens of its staff of sexually exploiting Sudanese refugees in Chad.

The NGO told AFP that it had launched months-long investigations into serious allegations of exploitation, sexual assault and abuse reported in late 2024 by Sudanese refugee women in eastern Chad.

Doctors Without Borders, one of the largest aid organizations in refugee camps in eastern Chad, said its investigations had uncovered a number of serious cases of misconduct, and expressed deep regret for the damage caused. .

According to the organization, investigations confirmed 59 incoming complaints, while other claims remained unproven, as investigators in some cases were unable to identify the victims or perpetrators.

Investigations reveal sexual abuse in Sudanese refugee camps in eastern Chad

The organization added that when investigations confirmed serious misconduct, it took immediate disciplinary action. As a result, 18 staff members were dismissed and are now barred from working with Doctors Without Borders. .

The list of defendants includes various categories, including contractors, external contractors, and suppliers.

Doctors Without Borders said this bad behavior represents a serious violation of the organization's values and responsibilities, noting the strengthening of systems for prevention, monitoring, safe reporting of violations and response.

The decision by Doctors Without Borders comes at a time when the National Commission to Investigate Crimes and Violations of National and International Humanitarian Law in Sudan has documented more than 30,000 killings, more than 2,000 rapes, and about 15,000 cases of detention and enforced disappearance since the outbreak of war in the country more than 3 years ago.

The civil war in Sudan, which broke out in mid-April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the displacement of more than 12 million people, and the flight of about one million of them westward to Chad, according to the United Nations.