UN says women, children fleeing Ukraine war being targeted for trafficking & exploitation

“unprecedented” displacement of millions of Ukrainians amidst Russian invasion is “turning into a human trafficking crisis”, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict said. Addressing members of UN Security Council (UNSC), Pramila Patten underscored many incidents of trafficking and violence that were recorded amidst ongoing migration crisis. refore, she called for a “coherent and coordinated response” by international community to address emergency.

"Women and children fleeing conflict are being targeted for trafficking and exploitation – in some cases facing furr exposure to rape and or risks while seeking refuge,” she told UNSC on Monday.

To substantiate her point she quoted some of many incidents that had happened over past three months in eastern European country. She said that one male volunteer woke up a 19-year-old woman refugee in a sleeping hall in Poland at 2 am and offered her a lift to France. In ar case, she reckoned that ar man wearing a volunteer vest reportedly approached single women in incoming refugees.

Patten furr asserted that accommodation officers' lack of “consistent vetting” and transportation arrangements is a serious concern. Ar factor that contributed to sexual abuses was limited capacity of law enforcers to address “velocity and volume of displacement.” At least, 14 million people have fled country since Putin's troops invaded country back in February in what is being termed largest migration crisis since second world war.

Unprecedented crisis

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine, triggering one of "most violent" conflicts in contemporary world. While battle for Kyiv’s sovereignty has led to thousands of casualties and reduced cities to rubble, it has triggered ar gigantic crisis-migrant exodus. According to United Nations, over 14 million people have fled conflict-hit nation since invasion started, triggering a migrant crisis that was last seen at end of second world war. tably, countries located in immediate vicinity of Ukraine are bearing brunt of conflict. 

(Im: AP)