Four UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh have been sent home and 13 others serving in southern Sudan are under investigation for alleged serious misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse, the United Nations said today.
The Bangladeshis were repatriated several months ago "and a case will be pursued in front of a national jurisdiction," UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said.
The announcement of the repatriations and investigations comes on the heels of a report in a British newspaper alleging that UN personnel in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, were involved in sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Daily Telegraphcited interviews with more than 20 children who alleged they were raped and sexually abused. "We have different allegations against them — not all of them are sexual allegations," said Ms Montas.
"As of today, there are 13 ongoing investigations regarding allegations of serious misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse," she added. The nationalities of the 13 peacekeepers under investigation were not disclosed.