MSF Staff Accused of Sex‑for‑Food Abuse of Sudanese Refugees
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has admitted that some of its staff were accused of sexually abusing at least 59 Sudanese refugees who fled the civil war to seek safety. The alleged abuse involved offering food or work in exchange for sex, and in some cases targeted young girls.
The incidents reportedly occurred in eastern Chad in 2024, roughly a year after Sudan’s protracted civil war intensified. MSF said it had dismissed 18 staff members, although it could not identify every alleged perpetrator.
Internal investigations also highlighted possible patterns of exploitation that could amount to sexual trafficking. Victims often stayed silent because they feared losing vital aid if they reported the abuse, and when they did speak out, many received no assistance or meaningful response.
In a statement, MSF said: "This misconduct represents a serious breach of MSF's values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused."
The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, which began in 2021 after a violent power struggle between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. The war has spurred the most severe humanitarian crisis worldwide, displacing more than 11 million people and leaving 28 million in acute hunger. It has also seen widespread sexual violence used as a weapon of war, with victims ranging from men and women to children as young as one year old.
