Oxfam chief executive denies cover-up of Haiti prostitution allegation

Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring denies the organisation that it tried to cover-up aid workers' use of prostitutes in Haiti, the BBC reports.

Goldring claims the UK-based charity was ashamed of its mistakes but had been proactive about addressing the matter and making it public.

The charity did ‘anything but’ cover up the incident, Goldring told BBC Radio 4.

"We were very open with the public that we were ashamed of the behaviour of our staff. We still are," he said.

The charity had initially reported it as ‘serious misconduct.’

A report by the charity did not detail the allegations, Goldring said.

"With hindsight, I would much prefer that we had talked about sexual misconduct.

"But I don't think it was in anyone's best interest to be describing the details of the behaviour in a way that was actually going to draw extreme attention to it when what we wanted to do was get on and deliver an aid programme."

Goldring said he was committed to wiping out any similar behaviour and rebuild the public’s trust in Oxfam.

The UK’s Department for International Development, which gave Oxfam $32 million last year, is reviewing its funding of the organisation.

Four staff members were dismissed over the incident and three, including country director for Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, was allowed to resign before the charity completed its investigation.

According to The Times UK, Van Hauwermeiren employed the prostitutes at the villa allocated to him by Oxfam.

The staff members had been part of the relief effort following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which killed over 200,000 people.

Oxfam would not provide recommendations for those involved in the matter, an Oxfam spokesperson said.