The U.N. refugee agency says it does not yet have enough evidence to act against some 70 humanitarian workers accused of sexually abusing children in West African refugee camps.

Kris Janowski

Agency Spokesman Kris Janowski told VOA Friday, the testimony of 1500 children at refugee camps in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia is insufficient, since those interviewed are minors. He said the accused workers are still in place pending further investigation. However, Mr. Janowski insisted the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is taking the allegations very seriously.

The U.N. agency announced Friday it will try to hire more female staff members and help refugees grow their own food, so they cannot be blackmailed into providing sex.

A report earlier this week by the refugee agency and British charity "Save the Children" accused the mostly male, locally-hired camp workers of forcing children to have sex for food and other supplies.

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

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