Newsdeck

Newsdeck

Oxfam aid workers accused of using sex workers in Haiti

Oxfam aid workers hired sex workers in Haiti during a major relief effort on the earthquake-hit island, according to a UK newspaper report Friday 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 up to 300,000 people dead, The Times said.

Groups of young sex workers 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 sex workers. 

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 organisation 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. DM

Gallery

Please peer review 3 community comments before your comment can be posted

We would like our readers to start paying for Daily Maverick...

…but we are not going to force you to. Over 10 million users come to us each month for the news. We have not put it behind a paywall because the truth should not be a luxury.

Instead we ask our readers who can afford to contribute, even a small amount each month, to do so.

If you appreciate it and want to see us keep going then please consider contributing whatever you can.

Support Daily Maverick→
Payment options

Become a Maverick Insider

This could have been a paywall

On another site this would have been a paywall. Maverick Insider keeps our content free for all.

Become an Insider

Every seed of hope will one day sprout.

South African citizens throughout the country are standing up for our human rights. Stay informed, connected and inspired by our weekly FREE Maverick Citizen newsletter.