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United Nations (United States) (AFP)

The United Nations reported 31 new allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in three months Friday, with nearly half of those involving staff of the UN refugee agency.

From July to September, there were 12 new cases reported in six peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Liberia, Mali and South Sudan.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported 15 allegations, while three new cases involved staff at the International Organisation on Migration and one allegation was directed against the UN children's agency UNICEF.

Two cases at UNHCR are under formal investigation, while the others were still being reviewed, according to UN information. In all, 14 investigations have been launched during the three months.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made fighting sexual abuse by peacekeepers and UN staff a priority of his tenure.

The United Nations has been damaged by a wave of rape cases involving peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, prompting former UN chief Ban Ki-moon to fire the mission commander.

Of the 31 cases, only 12 took place this year, two were from last year and six in 2015. The dates have not been established for the remaining 11 allegations.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the United Nations had set up monitoring of staff who have been involved in cases.

© 2017 AFP