Nepal Quakes Result in Human Trafficking

Towards the end of April, Nepal experienced a devastating earthquake killing thousands of lives, leaving many people without proper homes, families, and/or jobs. As a result, traffickers are taking advantage of this by taking women and children and using them to their own benefit.

The earthquake has not only left people in desperate need for food and shelter, but has also damaged the economics of the country, as many people want to leave Nepal for safety and better opportunities.

Individuals were left in desperate need for jobs in order to survive. According to The Guardian, parents are being tricked into allowing their children to travel with traffickers in trade for giving their sons and daughters a decent job. However, these parents are falling into a trap. They are unknowingly letting their children live like slaves in factories, where they receive little to no pay in cities such as Mumbai and Ludhiana. The border between India and Nepal is easier for human traffickers to get across since it is not strictly guarded.

However, India is taking action to save young individuals from falling into this scheme. The Guardian quotes an Indian official, who says that within 20 days, 26 children were saved.

In addition, child marriage is an existing problem in Nepal. The earthquake will only increase this growing epidemic. Child marriage is usually an outcome of less educated,poorer families. Parents want to marry their child off young in hopes of protection. However, this tends to further the poverty cycle.. Reuters reported a quote from a no child marriage advocate in Nepal He said that since various children have been left without their parents, the vulnerability of these young children will only rise. Since the earthquake has left families poor, many do not have the money to properly raise children. Therefore, they send them with traffickers or marry them off, hoping for the best. These drastic measures are taken in times of severe desperation, especially when the options are limited.

Reuters also reports a quote from the same advocate on how Nepal was initially working to decrease the numbers of child marriage. However, with the earthquake lowering the standard of living, this goal was no longer an immediate priority.

It’s a tragedy that people were working to put a stop to child marriage until the quake hit, leaving much damage to the nation. Although it might not be possible to physically go to Nepal and dedicate your time as a high school or college student, you do have to power to spread awareness and to donate to organizations, like Save the Children.

Anjali Patel is a high school student from New Jersey who’s livin’ life. She writes and formats for her school newspaper and literary magazine. In addition, she is the student council class treasurer and consistently volunteers for a local food pantry. She also writes for HelloFlo since writing is one of her main interests. Some of her other interests include hiking, traveling, reggae music, learning about different cultures, and trying new foods. Anjali also enjoys art and painting during her free time. In addition, she loves meeting new people and believes that something new can be learned from each individual we encounter. Her goal is to become an economic journalist and backpack around the world on the side.