Aid staff accused of using prostitutes

LONDON – Agence France-Presse

Oxfam aid workers hired prostitutes in Haiti during a major relief effort on the earthquake-hit island, according to a UK newspaper report on Feb. 9 which prompted the charity to deny a cover-up.

Young sex workers were hired by senior staff in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake which devastated the island and left tens of thousands of people dead, The Times said.

Groups of young prostitutes were invited to homes and guesthouses paid for by the charity for sex parties, according to one source who claimed to have seen footage of an orgy with sex workers wearing Oxfam t-shirts.

The charity launched an internal investigation in 2011 which found a “culture of impunity” among some staff and was unable to rule out that some of the prostitutes were underage, according to the newspaper.

The Times said Oxfam’s country editor, Roland van Hauwermeiren, resigned without disciplinary action despite allegedly admitting hiring prostitutes.

Two other men reportedly resigned and a further four were sacked, while the Haitian authorities were not informed and no legal action was taken.

Responding to the report, Oxfam denied it was behind a “cover-up” to protect its reputation.

“Oxfam treats any allegations of misconduct extremely seriously,” a spokeswoman told AFP.

Oxfam admitted that allegations of underage girls being involved had been made, but said these “were not proven.”

“A number of staff were dismissed as a result of the investigation and others left the organization before it was completed.

“The country director took full responsibility for events that took place under his management and was permitted to resign on the basis that he fully cooperated with and supported the investigation,” the spokeswoman said.