(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) A senior United Nations official has broken ranks with his organisation and called for "full compensation" for the victims of a cholera epidemic in Haiti. Gustavo Gallon, the UN's top human rights officer in Haiti, also said in his report that "those responsible" for the outbreak should be punished. It is the first such call by a representative of the UN, which has so far rejected compensation claims. Evidence suggests UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti in 2010, (BBC) News reported. The outbreak , which has killed more than 8,300 people and infected hundreds of thousands , has been blamed on leaking sewage pipes at a UN base. The UN has never acknowledged responsibility for the epidemic, arguing that it is impossible to pinpoint the exact source of the disease. The organisation said it has legal immunity from a lawsuit filed for Haitian victims at a New York court last year. Lawyers for the victims are demanding compensation of $100,000 (?62,000) for every person who died and $50,000 for each of those who became ill. But the UN argues it is immune from such claims under its Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.