News Center — Recent investigations by Médecins Sans Frontières have revealed the scale of ethical challenges facing international organizations in conflict zones, where the vulnerability of victims intersects with weak organizational structures, making women and girls susceptible to compounded violations.

Médecins Sans Frontières announced the dismissal of 18 staff members from its teams operating in eastern Chad, following a series of internal investigations that uncovered serious misconduct, including cases of sexual exploitation and assault targeting Sudanese refugee women inside the camps managed by the organization.

The decision, which came after an extensive review lasting several months, has once again highlighted the fragility of women's conditions in refugee environments and the ethical challenges facing humanitarian organizations in conflict zones.

According to an MSF statement, the matter began in late 2024 when the organization received initial reports concerning "suspected sexual exploitation and assault" inside Sudanese refugee camps in eastern Chad. Subsequently, the organization launched a series of internal investigations, including interviews, data reviews, and field assessments.

The review examined 59 allegations of misconduct, ranging from harassment and exploitation to sexual violations. The organization confirmed that a number of these allegations were substantiated, while others could not be verified due to the inability to identify victims or perpetrators in complex conditions characterized by overcrowding and weak organizational structures within the camps.

MSF clarified that the measures it took were "immediate and decisive," including the dismissal of 18 employees from various job categories, a ban on the dismissed individuals from future employment with the organization, and the implementation of internal measures to enhance oversight and prevent the recurrence of violations. Those dismissed included permanent staff, casual workers, external contractors, and suppliers associated with the organization's operations.

The organization emphasized that it will not disclose further details about the cases in order to protect the safety and confidentiality of the victims, affirming that what occurred constitutes a serious violation of its humanitarian values and the ethical standards it upholds in conflict zones.

It also called on staff, patients, and local community members to report any violations through channels it described as safe and reliable.

These developments come at a time when Chad is hosting approximately one million Sudanese refugees who have fled the war that has been ongoing since April 2023. UN estimates indicate that the conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people within Sudan and beyond.

The camps in eastern Chad suffer from severe overcrowding and a shortage of aid, making women and girls more vulnerable to exploitation and violations, and increasing the difficulty of monitoring behavior within refugee environments.