Kinshasa 24 December 2008: In the last few days, MONUC has received information concerning allegations of bad conduct, exploitation and sexual abuse by Blue Helmets in North Kivu. Information received at this stage is incomplete and not corroborated.

Upon reception of this information, MONUC informed the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), charged with investigating these kinds of allegations, and required that it conduct diligent, fast and in depth investigations.

All MONUC staff members must collaborate with the Investigators of the OIOS in order to facilitate their work.