WHO paid $250 each to women sexually abused by its employees

It has been revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) made payments of $250 each to Congolese women who were sexually abused by health workers, including its own staff.

Following the revelation that more than 100 women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were sexually abused by WHO employees and other personnel during the Ebola outbreak, payments were made to these individuals.

In a report by Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, who led the team that went to the country in March to investigate the scandal, it was stated that at least 104 women who were abused were each given $250.

While it is unclear how this amount—which is less than the daily per diem of UN employees in the country—would help the victims, the report noted that one of the abused women gave birth to a child with a disability who requires special treatment.

During the Ebola outbreak in the DRC between 2018 and 2020, it was alleged that WHO employees sexually abused a large number of women.

An independent investigative commission established by the WHO following allegations that "its employees were involved in sexual exploitation and abuse of women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo" had identified 83 cases of sexual abuse during the Ebola outbreak in the country.