Human trafficking in Nepal, $500 per child in earthquake torn region
Human traffickers in Nepal are reportedly offering to pay $500 per child in the wake of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks killed some 8,000 people, new reports state.
“When the earthquake struck, 36 people were killed and every single home was levelled,” said Sam Ellis, a youth minister at Church by the Sea in Laguna Beach.
“School is not in session now and traffickers are coming around, offering $500 per child, saying they will find work for the children,” Ellis added, discussing his visit to help with relief for the victims.
An NGO involved in the fight against human trafficking, KI Nepal, has assigned lookouts at the border to rescue trafficked children.
The United Nations and local NGOs estimate that 12,000 to 15,000 girls a year are trafficked from Nepal, some taken overseas to South Korea and even South Africa.
Most end up in Indian brothels where they work in appalling conditions, The Guardian reported last month.
“This is the time when the brokers go in the name of relief to kidnap or lure women. We are distributing assistance to make people aware that someone might come to lure them,” said Sunita Danuwar, director of Shakti Samuha, an NGO in Kathmandu. “We are getting reports of [individuals] pretending to go for rescuing and looking at people.”
Ellis reported that despite the hardship of recovery, many Hindu families are receiving Christ.
“Many people came up to me asking for prayer. They are open to Jesus,” he said.
[…] Un necaz nu vine de obicei singur. După cutremurul de pământ care a omorât mii de oameni și a lăsat alte zeci de mii fără adăpost, acum cei care fac trafic cu oameni oferă $500 pentru un copil cu promisiunea că îi cumpără pentru a le căuta de lucru. Numai că se știe ce fel de lucru le caută. Majoritatea vor ajunge să „muncească” în bordelurile din India și de prin alte părți. […]