Food for Sex: Doctors Without Borders Uncovers Serious Abuses in Displacement Camps

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has uncovered a pattern of sexual abuse and exploitation by some local and international staff working in Chad along the Sudanese border. In some cases, the abuses targeted underage girls or involved exchanging food or employment opportunities for sex with refugee women.

According to the Associated Press, an MSF investigation that began in the autumn of 2024 and was completed in July of last year identified 59 potential violations. The report stated that 18 staff members were dismissed and barred from future employment with the organization.

MSF said the findings of its investigation revealed that the abuses were more widespread than had previously been reported.

The organization documented several cases in which refugee women were sexually exploited in exchange for food, water, and milk.

The investigation also identified cases involving sex in exchange for jobs and the exploitation of refugee women in prostitution, including underage girls.

The report referred to an area within a refugee camp where staff members were reportedly seen seeking out girls. It added that local community leaders imposed a curfew aimed at preventing young girls from “visiting” MSF staff members.