Aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is facing allegations that its staff exploited Sudanese refugees by demanding sexual favours in exchange for food supplies. The claims, which have surfaced from camps in Chad, have prompted the United Kingdom to call for a full and transparent investigation.
The accusations emerged from testimony gathered by human rights monitors operating along the Chad-Sudan border, where tens of thousands of Sudanese have fled the civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Refugees reported that some MSF personnel withheld food rations unless women and girls provided sexual services. The alleged abuse is said to have occurred over several months in 2024.
MSF has publicly acknowledged the reports and stated that it has launched an internal probe. In a statement released on Tuesday, the organisation said it "takes any allegation of sexual exploitation extremely seriously" and has suspended the staff members implicated pending the outcome of the investigation. However, the charity has not disclosed the number of employees involved or their roles within the mission.
The British government expressed deep concern over the allegations. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "The UK condemns any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly against the most vulnerable. We urge MSF and the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough inquiry and ensure accountability. The safety and dignity of refugees must be paramount."
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which coordinates humanitarian operations in the region, confirmed it was monitoring the situation. A UNHCR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agency was reviewing its safeguarding protocols in light of the allegations.
This is not the first time aid workers have been accused of sexual misconduct in conflict zones. In 2018, a major scandal involving Oxfam in Haiti led to widespread reforms across the humanitarian sector. Despite pledges to strengthen vetting and oversight, critics argue that power imbalances in refugee camps continue to create opportunities for exploitation.
Sudanese refugees, many of whom have survived atrocities in Darfur and Khartoum, now face the added trauma of betrayal by those sent to help them. One woman, who fled El Geneina, told investigators: "We left our homes to escape death, only to find humiliation here."
The allegations threaten to undermine trust in international aid organisations at a time when humanitarian needs in Sudan are escalating. The war has displaced over eight million people, with nearly two million crossing into neighbouring countries. Chad hosts more than 600,000 Sudanese refugees, with numbers rising daily.
The UK has pledged an additional £50 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan and the region this year. However, the government has made clear that future funding may be contingent on the sector demonstrating robust safeguards against abuse.
The outcome of the MSF investigation is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the entire humanitarian community. Agencies are bracing for increased scrutiny from donors and host governments. The scandal also underscores the precarious position of women and girls in displacement settings, where aid dependency can become a weapon of control.
