Disaster sparks human trafficking fears

Hurricane Melissa's wreckage has opened dangerous new hunting grounds for human traffickers and sexual predators, the head of a female advocacy group has warned.

"There is a connection between disaster and human trafficking," Dr Lavern Deer, founder and CEO of the Female Development World Organization (FDWO) told THE STAR.

She reasoned that chaos and displacement can be conditions that predators exploit. Deer said that when families lose homes or income, traffickers move in on the vulnerability.

"When there are disasters and people are misplaced, they are easily prone to that type of activity, one, because of the lack of need and the lack of resources, and so they can be easily manipulated into that lifestyle," she said.

Even outside emergency periods, she added, the risk persists - but the desperation that follows a storm dramatically raises the stakes.

"When someone is in a dire situation, they can find themselves becoming victims."

Parents and neighbours are being urged to watch for sudden behavioural changes or unexplained possessions in children.

"If a child suddenly has things you didn't buy or becomes withdrawn when they were once outgoing, ask questions. This is the time to engage with your children. In the chaos after Melissa, warning signs can easily be overlooked," Deer said.

The FDWO head stressed that many victims do not realise they are being trafficked. Predators often use manipulation rather than overt force, including false promises, isolation, romantic pretence, threats, or withholding money.

"Often, victims don't even really they are being trafficked," Dr Deer said. "Even if a child or adult initially consents to go with or work for a perpetrator, that consent becomes meaningless when they are exploited. Anyone can be targeted, and everyone must remain vigilant."

Meanwhile, Kayla Wright, advocacy manager at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Jamaica, says Hurricane Melissa has revealed just how unprepared Jamaica remains to safeguard sexual and reproductive health during national emergencies.

"Th challenges Jamaican women face every day - period poverty, access to contraceptives, or essential medication - are only magnified in disasters," Wright told THE STAR.

"Melissa caused extensive damage to clinics and hospitals, leaving healthcare access halted indefinitely."

The situation was further complicated by the conditions in which many families were displaced. Overcrowded shelters in western parishes such as Westmoreland and St Elizabeth, combined with blocked roads and extended communication outages, left women and girls isolated from support and reporting channels.

Wright cited online reports of concerning incidents in shelters as evidence of rising vulnerability.

"Displacement and overcrowded shelters heighten risk," she said. "This can lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections."