The United Nations says it has received 44 allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers and staff in UN missions so far this year involving more than 40 minors.

The UN peacekeeping department said most of the new allegations were committed prior to 2016.

The United Nations has been in the spotlight for months over allegations of child rape and other sexual abuses by its peacekeepers, especially those based in Central African Republic and Congo.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that the latest allegations included 29 in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, seven in the UN mission in Congo, and two in the mission in Haiti.