Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has admitted that its staff were accused of sexually abusing at least 59 Sudanese refugees who had fled the civil war in search of safety.
The alleged abuse took place in eastern Chad and dates back to 2024, around a year after Sudan’s civil war erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to reporting by the Associated Press, some victims included young girls, while food, jobs or other forms of aid were allegedly offered in exchange for sex.
MSF said it had dismissed 18 people over the allegations, but admitted that it was unable to identify some of the other alleged perpetrators.
An internal MSF report from July also found patterns of exploitation that could amount to “sexual trafficking.”
Some victims reportedly chose not to speak out because they feared losing access to vital aid. MSF also admitted that some of those who did report abuse received no reply or support, while official complaints procedures were largely ineffective.
“This misconduct represents a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused,” MSF said in response to AP’s investigation.
The allegations come as Sudan continues to suffer what is widely described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
More than 11 million people have been forced from their homes, while around 28 million face acute hunger. Although there is no confirmed death toll, estimates suggest at least 150,000 people have been killed, with some figures placing the number as high as 400,000.
Mass sexual violence has also been widely documented throughout the conflict, with men, women and children among those targeted.
The case adds to growing concerns over sexual exploitation by humanitarian workers, despite repeated pledges by major aid organisations to prevent abuse within emergency relief operations.