Desmond Tutu becomes latest Oxfam ambassador to quit in wake of Haiti scandal as charity admits it REHIRED worker who was sacked over sexual misconduct allegations

  • Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was 'deeply disappointed' with allegations
  • He is latest in a string of global ambassadors to quite their roles at charity Oxfam 
  • Charity has also revealed that it re-hired a worker sacked for sexual misconduct 
  • Former Oxfam boss Roland van Hauwermeiren called sex scandal claims 'lies' 
  • He resigned in 2011 after internal investigation into aid workers paying for sex
  • John Lewis has also said it is 'reviewing and seeking assurances' from Oxfam
  • Senagalese singer Baaba Maal is latest Oxfam ambassador to quit their role
  • Oxfam bosses will be called before MPs and quizzed over the growing scandal

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was 'deeply disappointed' with allegations against aid workers, who are said to have paid prostitutes for sex

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he was 'deeply disappointed' with allegations against aid workers, who are said to have paid prostitutes for sex

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has quit his role as an Oxfam ambassador amid a sex scandal engulfing the charity - as it emerged a worker sacked over sexual misconduct allegations in earthquake-hit Haiti was later re-hired in Ethiopia.

Tutu, an 86-year-old Nobel Peace laureate, withdrew from public life in 2010 due to his advancing years but had continued to represent Oxfam even in retirement.

Now he has announced he has stood down, with a statement from his office saying: 'The Archbishop is deeply disappointed by allegations of immorality and possible criminality involving humanitarian workers linked to the charity.'

Tutu's departure came as:

- Fresh claims emerged that Oxfam staff sent to the Philippines in the wake of a disaster spent weeks lounging around a pool with underage girls

- A worker sacked by Oxfam over sexual misconduct allegations in Haiti was later re-hired by the charity in Ethiopia 

- MPs announced they would grill Oxfam bosses over the scandal and the charity's safeguarding policies

- Tutu was joined in quitting an ambassador role by Senagalese singer Baaba Maal, after Hollywood actress Minnie Driver had earlier said she too was standing down 

Earlier today the disgraced former Oxfam boss at the centre of the scandal hit back at allegations he hired prostitutes for sex parties as 'lies and exaggerations'.

Roland van Hauwermeiren, 68, and six others left their roles at Oxfam amid claims they had used prostitutes during an aid operation in earthquake-hit Haiti.  

Senagalese singer Baaba Maa
Minnie Driver

Senagalese singer Baaba Maal (left) has become the latest Oxfam ambassador to quit their role, joining Hollywood star Minnie Driver (right)

The British star has worked with Oxfam for 20 years, donating a £72,000 lunch date to its 2008 Ebay auction

British star Minnie Driver has worked with Oxfam for 20 years, donating a £72,000 lunch date to its 2008 Ebay auction

Mr van Hauwermeiren has spoken to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad about the allegations. 

Speaking from his home on the Belgian coast, he said: 'Because now everything is exaggerated. And that hurts, especially because my family does not want to see me anymore.' 

Mr van Hauwermeiren said yestrday: 'A lot of people - including the international media - will feel blushes when they hear my version of the facts. Not that I deny everything. Certainly not.

'There are things that are correctly described. But I also read a lot of lies and exaggerations. Party every week? Chic villas? Women paid with money from the organisation? 

This is the face of the disgraced Oxfam boss Roland van Hauwermeiren, photographed while he was working in Haiti

This is the face of the disgraced Oxfam boss Roland van Hauwermeiren, photographed while he was working in Haiti

Oxfam staff 'cavorted around a luxury hotel pool with girls who looked as young as 14 in the typhoon-hit Philippines' 

Oxfam staff 'disgusted' guests at the Marco Polo hotel in the Philippines (pictured) when they cavorted around a pool with girls who appeared to be as young as 14, it has been claimed

Oxfam staff 'disgusted' guests at the Marco Polo hotel in the Philippines (pictured) when they cavorted around a pool with girls who appeared to be as young as 14, it has been claimed

Oxfam staff 'disgusted' guests at a luxury hotel when they cavorted around a pool with girls who appeared to be as young as 14, it has been claimed.

The sex scandal engulfing the embattled charity intensified today when a British pilot said 'older male staff' lounged about with the girls in the typhoon-hit Philippines in 2013.

Chris Jacobs claims to have even phoned Oxfam in the UK to complain about the behaviour of their staff at the five-star Marco Polo hotel on Cebu island but heard nothing back from the charity.   

The 44-year-old commercial airline pilot, who was in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, told the Evening Standard: 'It was not in the area where the typhoon caused the worst damage and some of these Oxfam officials seemed to spend all their time by the pool with young local women. 

'It was the older men who were the problem. A number of guests became upset because the girls looked 14 or 15. My wife Jo felt very uncomfortable about it. 

'I telephoned Oxfam's headquarters in Oxford shortly afterwards and told them what we had seen. I didn't hear back from them.'

A senior Oxfam official had earlier confirmed she was aware of sexual abuse involving the charity's staff in the Philippines. 

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'I do not feel like reacting at all. What I see appearing everywhere is hard to bear. It hurts. It is especially very bad that my family does not want to see me anymore. But now I say too much again. '

After resigning from Oxfam, he went on to work for French charity Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh. There had already been complaints about Van Hauwermeiren and his use of prostitutes when he was working for the British medical charity Merlin in Liberia before joining Oxfam.

The decision to employ the man as a consultant in the African nation was described by the charity as a 'serious error'.  

The charity said Hiring the man 'even in an emergency as a short-term consultant' was a 'serious error and should never have happened'. 

'We are still checking how this occurred but it further highlights that we need an organisation and sector-wide approach to the vetting and recruitment of both staff and consultants, especially in emergencies where there is pressure to fill posts quickly in order to help save lives,' it continued. 

FAMOUS FACES THAT FORM OXFAM'S GLITTERING LINEUP OF AMBASSADORS

Stephen Fry has frequently supported Oxfam, most notably encouraging people to donate 500,000 books to raise £1m in a campaign in 2012

Stephen Fry has frequently supported Oxfam, most notably encouraging people to donate 500,000 books to raise £1m in a campaign in 2012

Oxfam has faced a backlash from celebrities, sponsors and donors following allegations that senior staff working in crisis zones paid for sex with vulnerable locals.

Stephen Fry has urged the charity to get 'its house in order' in the wake of the sex abuse scandal.

He has frequently supported the Oxfam, most notably encouraging people to donate 500,000 books to raise £1m in a campaign in 2012

But a spokesperson for the comedian told the Daily Telegraph he was 'waiting to see how they put their house in order after the terrible and disturbing scandal'. 

British pop band Coldplay have been one of Oxfam's most vocal supporters, and invited the organisation on five tours to generate support for its campaigns.

Frontman Chris Martin has worn T-shirts promoting the charity and visited Ghana and Tanzania.

Coldpay frontman Chris Martin has worn T-shirts promoting the charity and visited Ghana and Tanzania

Coldpay frontman Chris Martin has worn T-shirts promoting the charity and visited Ghana and Tanzania

Actor Bill Nighy has also declined to comment. He has worked with the charity for more than a decade and travelled to Tanzania with Oxfam in June 2007. The following year he went to Japan to lobby with the organisation at the G8 summit.

Other global ambassadors include Dame Helen Mirren, Annie Lennox and model Helena Christensen.

Miss Lennox went to Mexico with Oxfam and has helped several campaigns.

Actor Bill Nighy has also declined to comment. He has worked with the charity for more than a decade and travelled to Tanzania with Oxfam in June 2007

Actor Bill Nighy has also declined to comment. He has worked with the charity for more than a decade and travelled to Tanzania with Oxfam in June 2007

Other global ambassadors include Dame Helen Mirren (right), Annie Lennox (left) and model Helena Christensen

Representatives for Dame Helen, who has been involved with Oxfam for 24 years, have not replied to several emails asking about her future involvement.

A publicist for Sex and the City star Kristin Davis, who was listed on the page of Oxfam's global ambassadors yesterday morning, said she had not worked with the organisation for 'several years'.

Following the Daily Mail's conversation with her representative, the American actress's name disappeared from Oxfam's website.

Joanna Lumley, who has also been involved with the charity, has not responded to requests for comment on their future involvement with Oxfam

Joanna Lumley, who has also been involved with the charity, has not responded to requests for comment on their future involvement with Oxfam

Actor Colin Firth has also been involved with the charity but has not commented 

Actor Colin Firth has also been involved with the charity but has not commented 

Joanna Lumley and Colin Firth, who have also been involved with the charity, have not responded to requests for comment on their future involvement with Oxfam. 

Miss Lumley fronted a clothes campaign in partnership with Marks and Spencer which raised £2million for the organisation in 2012 while Firth, who previously described himself as an 'Oxfam ambassador', has auctioned tickets to two of his film premieres in aid of the charity.

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Senagalese singer Baaba Maal (pictured) also quit his role, joining Hollywood star Minnie Driver

Senagalese singer Baaba Maal (pictured) also quit his role, joining Hollywood star Minnie Driver

Today, fresh claims emerged about the embattled charity.

The London Evening Standard reports Oxfam staff dispatched to the Philippines in the wake of a devastating typhoon lounged around a pool with local girls who appeared underage.

A British pilot told the paper guests at the five-star Marco Polo hotel on Cebu island were 'disgusted' by 'older male staff' and their behaviour with girls who appeared as young as 14.

Chris Jacobs claims to have even phoned Oxfam in the UK to complain but heard nothing back from the charity.     

Oxfam's senior staff will be summoned before MPs, who are demanding answers on the scandal.

The International Development Committee will hold an 'urgent session' on February 20 to question chief executive Mark Goldring and chair of trustees Caroline Thomson over the scandal and its safeguarding policies.

Permanent secretary at the Department for International Development Matthew Rycroft will also attend to explain the extent of the Government's knowledge of the problem and how it intends to respond, the committee said.

Chief executive of Save the Children Kevin Watkins is due to attend for questioning about sexual exploitation in the aid sector.  

Meanwhile, retail giant John Lewis is 'reviewing and seeking assurances' from Oxfam, involving 25,000 vulnerable women and children in Bangladesh. 

Today the Cabinet minister for overseas aid will meet the boss of the National Crime Agency (NCA) to discuss the Oxfam aid worker sex scandal.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and NCA director-general Lynne Owens will hold private talks on how they can work together to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse as the crisis continued to engulf the charity.

Oxfam has been accused of concealing the findings of an inquiry into claims staff used prostitutes while delivering aid in earthquake-hit Haiti in 2011.

And today it was revealed that the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) had dealt with two cases of alleged sexual misconduct involving children. 

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) said one of the cases involved a junior staff member for a joint organisation with aid charity Cafod in Ethiopia, while the other involved a volunteer in Burundi.

Yesterday, a worker accused of sexual misconduct while working for Oxfam in Haiti that year was sacked from a role at aid charity Cafod.

The Catholic charity dismissed the man after receiving a reference from Oxfam which confirmed the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, retail giant John Lewis is 'reviewing and seeking assurances from Oxfam' involving 25,000 vulnerable women and children in Bangladesh

Meanwhile, retail giant John Lewis is 'reviewing and seeking assurances from Oxfam' involving 25,000 vulnerable women and children in Bangladesh

He was hired in 2014 and provided two references, including one sent from a private email account by someone who said they had been his manager at Oxfam. 

Cafod said it had been unaware of the accusations until it was contacted recently by the Times newspaper.

'We requested and yesterday received a reference from Oxfam GB headquarters which confirmed the allegations against him,' CAFOD director Chris Bain said in a statement. 

Singer Baaba Maal told BBC Newsnight: 'What has happened on a human level is disgusting and heart breaking. It is very sad. Vulnerable people especially children should always be protected.

'As such I am disassociating myself from Oxfam immediately.'

Several sponsors and partners of Oxfam including Visa and the retail chain Marks and Spencer have also said they are examining the situation. 

The Times reports today that John Lewis is 'reviewing and seeking assurances' form Oxfam involving 25,000 vulnerable women and children in Bangladesh.

The retailer told The Times that it was 'deeply concerned' about the sex abuse scandal engulfing the charity and accusations that staff sexually exploited young women in Haiti.

The John Lewis Foundation said that it would 'rigorously review and seek assurances from Oxfam' regarding their £250,000-a-year joint project in the slum areas of Bangladesh that supply products to its shops. 

Damien Berrendorf (pictured) was fired last year for mismanagement after allegations by whistleblowers - although they did not relate to sexual misconduct

Damien Berrendorf (pictured) was fired last year for mismanagement after allegations by whistleblowers - although they did not relate to sexual misconduct

It also emerged this week that the Oxfam official who replaced Mr van Hauwermeiren as the charity's Haiti country director was himself dismissed last year for 'inappropriate behaviour'.

Damien Berrendorf was fired last year for mismanagement after allegations by whistleblowers – although they did not relate to sexual misconduct. 

Referring to Mr Berrendorf's sacking, a spokesman for Oxfam said: 'We can confirm that Damien Berrendorf was Oxfam's country director in Haiti from 2012 to 2017.

'He was dismissed in 2017 for mismanagement. The dismissal was not relating to sexual misconduct and was not connected to the case in 2011.

'However, there were allegations of inappropriate behaviour. As soon as the allegations were reported via Oxfam's whistleblowing line they were investigated and the individual dismissed.'

It is not know what the inappropriate behaviour concerned.

It comes as it emerged a charity which employed Mr van Hauwermeiren were never informed of the Oxfam allegations.

The aid worker moved to the charity Action Against Hunger after he had left his job as country director in the Caribbean.

The charity claimed that it carried out a number of checks on Mr van Hauwermeiren, although it was not informed of any inappropriate or unethical behaviour.

The Belgian national allegedly admitted to using prostitutes at his villa in Haiti, but was allowed a 'phased and dignified' resignation in 2011. He was the head of mission for Action Against Hunger in Bangladesh until 2014.

An Action Against Hunger spokesman told Sky News: 'Action Against Hunger has a strict recruitment process which includes tests, interviews, individual references checks, and contact with former employee organisations according to French labour regulation.

'This procedure was followed prior to the employment of Roland van Hauwermeiren. During this process, Action Against Hunger received no information regarding any inappropriate or unethical behaviour by Roland van Hauwermeiren while he was with Oxfam in Haiti, or any warning on the risks of employing him.

'According to our records, we have not received any alerts regarding sexual misconduct or abuse during Roland van Hauwermeiren's assignment with Action Against Hunger. 

Roland van Hauwermeiren  allegedly admitted to using prostitutes at his villa in Haiti (above)

Roland van Hauwermeiren  allegedly admitted to using prostitutes at his villa in Haiti (above)

'We have now, however, begun a process to closely scrutinise the time he was employed by us, and Action Against Hunger commits to full disclosure, collaborating in full with the authorities.' Oxfam has been contacted for comment.

Tutu's statement added: 'He is also saddened by the impact of the allegations on the many thousands of good people who have supported Oxfam's righteous work.

'Archbishop Emeritus Tutu has retired from public life, and is therefore withdrawing from his public commitments. He has instructed his office to write to Oxfam International to inform them of his retirement as a global ambassador.'

It has also emerged that a leading medical charity has fired 29 staff members in the past two years over sexual abuse and harassment allegations.

Doctors Without Borders said 19 people were sacked in 2017 for sexual abuse or harassment and ten the year before.

The group, which employs 42,000 staff, won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize and is famed for operating clinics in conflict zones. The charity said it had received 146 complaints or alerts last year and ended up sacking 19 staff members. It added that other employees were handed disciplinary measures or were suspended.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday admitted it could not provide 'reliable historical data about staff misconduct' but it was building a database to do so.  

Catholic Scottish charity reveals it has dealt with two cases of alleged misconduct involving children as Oxfam allegations rumble on

A Scottish aid charity has confirmed it has dealt with two cases of alleged misconduct involving children.

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) said one of the cases involved a junior staff member for a joint organisation with other UK and Irish Catholic charities in Ethiopia, while the other involved a volunteer in Burundi.

The Burundi incident, which dates back to 2012, involved the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a 45-year-old Burundian man who volunteered for a local partner organisation for Sciaf.

The Ethiopian man accused in the other incident worked in the shared office of Sciaf with Cafod and Trocaire in 2016, when he was accused of sexual misconduct with a boy under 16.

Neither victim were helped by Sciaf and the incidents did not take place during any of the charity's projects.

Sciaf director Alistair Dutton said both incidents were dealt with 'decisively' and reassured supporters that the charity has stringent safeguarding procedures. 

'Sciaf is doing everything we can to minimise the risk of these events and to deal with them appropriately,' Mr Dutton said. 

He said the Burundi man was reported to police, arrested and suspended as a volunteer, and the local charity partner co-operated with the police investigation and provided counselling and legal advice to the girl's family. The case is since believed to have been dropped.

 

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