NATIONAL: Watchdog begins Oxfam enquiry after sex claims

Oxfam has come under fire since the scandal broke out

Oxfam issued an ‘unreserved apology’ to the government, donors, supporters and the people of Haiti over its handling of sex allegations, including the use of prostitutes by workers in Haiti in 2011.

Announcing her resignation as deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence said she took full responsibility for what had happened on her watch and was sorry for the ‘harm and distress’ it had caused supporters, as the charity faced a battle to ‘rebuild the public trust’ following crisis talks with the Government over future funding.

The commission’s deputy chief executive David Holdsworth said: ‘Charities and dedicated, hard-working aid workers undertake vital, lifesaving work in some of the most difficult circumstances across the world.

‘However, the issues revealed in recent days are shocking and unacceptable. It is important that we take this urgent step to ensure that these matters can be dealt with fully and robustly.’