[Al Jazeera] UK-based charity Oxfam's second-in-command has quit over allegations aid workers paid for sex while on assignments in Haiti and Chad.Penny Lawrence, Oxfam's deputy chief executive, said in a statement on Monday she was "ashamed" of staff members' use of hookers in both countries.
"Over the last few days we have become aware that concerns were raised about the behaviour of staff in Chad as well as Haiti that we failed to adequately act upon," Lawrence said.
"I am desperately sorry for the harm and distress that this has caused to Oxfam's supporters, the wider development sector and, most of all, the vulnerable people who trusted us."
Staff reportedly used hookers in Chad at the charity's staff house. Those allegations followed news reports last week that Oxfam staff paid sex workers while on an aid mission following Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake.
Oxfam fired four staff members for gross misconduct and allowed three others to resign following a 2011 internal inquiry into the sex scandal, the downloading of pornography, and bullying and intimidation during the assignment.
A Times article published on Friday - based on a copy of the internal Oxfam report it obtained - said the country director in Haiti, Roland van Hauwermeiren, was among those allowed to resign after it was revealed he paid for sex at a property rented by the charity.