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KINSHASA. – The World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa saidyesterday that the agency was “heartbroken” by the findings of an independent commission on sex abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We in the WHO are indeed humbled, horrified and heartbroken by the findings of this inquiry,” Matshidiso Moeti said at a news briefing.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the commission’s report made for “harrowing reading”.
The commission found that some 21 of 83 alleged perpetrators were employed by the WHO, and that the abuses, which included nine allegations of rape, were committed by both national and international staff.
Alleged victims “were not provided with the necessary support and assistance required for such degrading experiences”, the report said.
An independent investigation commissioned by WH) has identified more than 80 alleged cases of sexual abuse during the global health agency’s response to an Ebola outbreak in the DRC, including allegations implicating 20 staff members.
The 35-page report released on Tuesday exposed the most widescale sexual wrongdoing linked to a United Nations institution in years committed from 2018 to 2020. – Reuters
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