U.S. Aid Group in Greece Hit by Refugee Sex Abuse Claims
The American aid agency Mercy Corps has announced an internal probe into accusations that two of its workers in Greece sexually exploited refugees.
Mercy Corps said it had put the two staffers on temporary paid leave after getting a call to its complaints hotline.
"We are taking this situation very seriously and have reported the allegation to Greek authorities as well as to the funders of our program," the agency said in a statement.
Greek authorities have also opened a probe into the case, which was revealed in mid-May by the office of the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Christos Stylianides.
The allegations concerned not just sexual abuse but financial corruption, the Commission said in a May 16 statement.
"Although these remain allegations under investigation, the Commission is taking them very seriously," the statement added.
The Commission did not at that time name the agency concerned, but said it had suspended its funding pending the results of the investigation.
Mercy Corps is one of many NGOs working in Greece to help tens of thousands of refugees and migrants blocked from moving further into Europe. Many of them fled the conflict in Syria.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/230815 |