Oxfam has made an official apology to the Haitian government following allegations of sexual exploitation by the organisation’s staff.
Simon Ticehurst and Margalida Massot, two of Oxfam’s senior staff, met with Haiti’s minister of planning and external cooperation on Monday to offer their “humblest apologies”.
“Oxfam is grateful to the Haitian government for allowing us the chance now to offer our humblest apologies and to begin explaining ourselves and start the long road ahead of re-establishing trust and partnership, given our 40-year history with Haiti and its citizens,” said Ticehurst.
“We stand ready to engage with the Haitian people and have expressed our openness to cooperate as much as required with the Haitian government.”
Despite the charities regrets, following the outbreak of the scandal an estimated 7,000 people have ended regular donations to the charity.
Mark Goldring, the Oxfam boss, made a separate apology following his controversial comments while defending the organisation.
“The intensity and ferocity of the attack makes you wonder, what did we do? We murdered babies in their cots?” he said in an interview with the Guardian last week.
He has since said he is “deeply sorry” for these comments.
The Charity Commission is currently investigating the organisation. 26 claims of sexual misconduct have been made since the scandal emerged.
Goldring and two other Oxfam executives were questioned on Monday by MPs about the sexual misconduct.
“At the time, people thought that was being transparent. We know now that that was not enough,” Goldberg told MPs.
“I suspect there was a balance of saying ‘Oxfam is delivering life-saving assistance to a million people in Haiti. We have got to keep that work going’.”
Oxfam has released the findings of its own investigation into relief workers in Haiti following the earthquake. The report includes information of how the allegations came to light and includes interviews with witnesses.