By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has called for more efforts to protect African refugees and immigrants from traffickers on their way from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa toward North Africa and Europe in search of greener pasture.
UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo on Friday, noted that traffickers take advantage of African refugees fleeing violence as well as migrants fleeing economic hardship and climate change effects, subjecting them to appalling abuse.
“Some of them are left to die in the desert. Others suffer repeated sexual and gender-based violence, kidnapped for ransom, torture and many other forms of physical and psychological abuse,” said Mantoo. “So, the human trafficking issue is widespread and is incredibly alarming.”
A recent report issued by the UNHCR and the Mixed Migration Center at the Danish Refugee Council, wss based on findings from 12 countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Somalia and Sudan.
Mantoo said human traffickers and smugglers use technology and online platforms to advertise their services to unsuspecting victims.
According to her, traffickers employ the internet to identify, groom and recruit victims, including children.
She says the UNHCR is urging governments and the private sector to work together to crack down on the use of the Internet by traffickers.
“These same digital technologies can be leveraged to actually counter the issue and counter trafficking by helping empower communities with trustworthy information, to better protect themselves and also be aware of the risks that they might face on these journeys …to ensure that there are protection services available for the people who are taking these precarious and perilous journeys, to prevent and end the human trafficking and smuggling rings,” said Mantoo.
“UNHCR therefore calls for the creation of shelters and safe places, better access to legal services, and specialized services for children and female survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence.
“The commission stresses the importance of identifying critical locations to serve as places where refugees and migrants can get information about the dangers that lie ahead before they embark on journeys across the Sahara.”
