Cape Town, South Africa (AP) – Members of South African research teams who have been trapped for more than a year isolated Antarctica The base was placed under psychological evaluation after he allegedly assaulted and sexually harassed his colleagues, government officials said.
The issue of Sanae IV base was first reported by the Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa. The newspaper said it saw an email from team members to authorities last month.
The email asked for help.
“His actions escalated to a deep, disturbing point,” the email said, according to the Sunday Times. “I am deeply concerned about my safety and I am constantly wondering if I will be the next victim,” the report said the man was allegedly pose a death threat.
South Africa’s Environment Ministry, which oversees the investigation mission, said in a statement Monday night that alleged assault on the basic leader was reported on February 27th, with officials and counselors intervening remotely “to mediate and restore base relationships.” They said they talked to team members almost every day.
“The alleged perpetrators are willing to participate in further psychological assessments, express regret and are happy to be supportive,” the ministry said, adding that it wrote a formal apology to the victims of the assault. He said the allegations are being investigated. No one was identified.
A team of nine members, including scientists, doctors and engineers, is expected to stay at the base for around 13 months until next year, authorities said they will live nearby until the hostile Antarctic winter, when six months of darkness begins in June.
The base is located on the cliffs of Queen Maudland and is surrounded by glacial ice sheets over 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) from South Africa.
According to South Africa’s National Antarctic Program, the next supply vessel visit will be in December. It takes about 10 days to travel from Cape Town.
Officials said the onset of unpredictable weather conditions has decided not to evacuate anyone from Sanae IV, meaning that the team is limited to bases.
The ministry said that all team members were evaluated prior to the trip to allow them to deal with the “extreme nature of the Antarctic environment” and isolation and confinement, and that no issues were identified.
“It is not uncommon for an individual to arrive in a very far-flung area with a scientific foundation, and initial adjustments to the environment are required.”
Previous issues have been reported in another remote study-based South Africa On Marion IslandSouth Africa’s territory near Antarctica.
According to a report to the South African Parliament, in 2017, members of the research team there broke a room of a colleague with an x above an obvious triangle of love. The lawmaker said the researchers appear to be living in a very stressful state.
National Science Foundation, federal agencies oversee US Antarctic ProgramThe report was published in 2022. Experienced harassment and assault On a research trip in Antarctica.
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