UN to probe allegations peacekeepers fathered children in Ethiopia, Eritrea

ASMARA, March 31 (AFP) — The UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said Thursday it would investigate allegations that some of its peacekeepers fathered children with women in while conducting their duties.

It said had received reports from three women, some of whose stories were backed up by relatives, who had named UN peacekeepers as being the fathers of their children.

UNMEE “will shortly conduct investigations to verify these claims with a view to addressing the situation in an amicable manner and in the best interest of the off-spring of these consensual relationships,” it said in a statement.

The United Nations has a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse,” it said, that during its nearly five-year history UNMEE had adopted tough measures to ensure the good behavior of its civilian and military staff.

It have no further details about the allegations.

Currently, UNMEE has 3,049 peacekeeping troops controlling a Temporary Security Zone that hugs the two countries’ common border which was the subject of a bitter 1998-2000 war.

Last week, UNMEE acknowledged some of its peacekeepers and civilian staff had defrauded the operation of more than 500,000 dollars in telephone charges.