Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care helps a survivor of human trafficking

Abdulrahman Saeed, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care “Ewaa” revealed that it assisted a woman who was victimised by of human trafficking gang that forced her to work in prostitution.

Ewaa said it returned the rescued woman to her home country after receiving the necessary physical and psychological treatment, and also helped her start a new life.

The centre explained that this victim arrived at one of its shelters, with bruises on her body as a result of repeated beatings and sexual assault.

The medical team at the centre treated her and the counselors helped her recover from her psychological pains before returning her to her homeland.

The victim said that while she was working for a hairdressing salon in her country, a customer asked her about the reason for her sadness, and she told her that her mother was sick and needed surgery which she was unable to afford.

The client allegedly offered her a job opportunity in a salon abroad, and asked her to prepare the papers. Within two weeks, she said she received the visa and flight ticket, and boarded the plane on its way to the new destination.

The victim added that a man received her at the airport, housed her in an apartment with other girls, then told her to take a break. The following night, he came and asked her to prepare to work in prostitution.

She allegedly rejected the job and screamed but all was useless as the man beat her severely and detained her in a room for two days, to find herself obligated to accept the job so that she could escape.

The victim added: "It was not easy because I did not have money or even my passport. I was tortured and sexually assaulted for two months before the police raided the apartment and rescued me with severe bruises. I was sent to a shelter centre in Abu Dhabi, where I received psychological and physical care with other survivors. After that, I was able to send money for my mother's surgery and now I started a new safe life."