‘Oxfam’ Scandal: Deputy chief resigns after allegations over ‘Haiti’ victims abuse by aid workers

London: The reports of sexual exploitation of the disaster victims, by the employees of the international voluntary organisation, ‘Oxfam’ have surfaced. There are 123 incidences in three countries of such abuse. After the senior officers of the organisation, based in Britain, exposed this matter, Penny Lawrence, the Deputy chief executive of the organisation, resigned. European nations have warned of stopping financial aid to Oxfam.

Oxfam employees have been accused of sexual harassment and misconduct towards the disaster victims in foreign countries. Following this allegation, British International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, indicated stopping aid to the organisation. The British government had invited the Oxfam officials to discuss about the accusations. The Chief Executive Officer, Mark Goldring and Chairwoman of the charity’s Trustees, Caroline Thomson, were present from the organisation for the discussion. After the discussion Goldring and Thomson expressed regret about the accusations. But, avoided giving any more details about the matter.

Former global head of safeguarding of the organisation, Helen Evans exposed more information about the accusations. The employees of the organisation in Haiti and two other countries, sexually exploited colleagues and disaster victims, informed Evans.

‘Oxfam had opened hundreds of offices in the Caribbean countries after the catastrophic earthquake in 2011. The employees in these offices, had forcefully, sexually exploited the disaster victims, that were minor girls and women. There were incidences of even smuggling of girls and women that were disaster victims, in exchange for providing aid.’, said Evans in her accusations.

Evans said, there were 123 incidents of sexual harassment that she was pursuing and she had even sent e-mails to the seniors. Evans exposed the shocking information that about 23,000 people were employed without checking on their criminal history. She informed that there have been 238 accusations of sexual misconduct on the employees, in the last nine years and 123 of them were during Evans’s tenure. While there have been 52 incidences, in the last year.

Meanwhile, Lawrence, the Deputy Chief Executive of the organisation has accepted responsibility of the incidents and has resigned. Following this, the countries aiding Oxfam have financially threatened to turn their backs on the organisation.