The United Nations said on Wednesday that it is deeply concerned by press reports of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel in southern Sudan.

"The UN standard on this issue is clear -- zero tolerance, meaning zero complacency and zero impunity," said a statement issued by UN Spokesperson Michele Montas.

"In cooperation with the UN Mission in the Sudan, we are looking into the substance of the press reports to determine if the allegations are new or are existing cases already under investigation," the statement said.

A British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, reported on Tuesday that it had gathered about 20 accounts from victims in the southern Sudanese town of Juba, accusing UN civilian and peacekeeping staff of committing sexual offenses to them.

Source: Xinhua