Syrian women ‘forced to trade sex for aid’

Syrian women are being coerced into sex in exchange for humanitarian assistance, a new report has revealed.

In the latest sex abuse scandal to hit the charity sector, aid workers have detailed how men working on behalf of the UN and international charities are trading food and lifts for sexual favours.

“Despite warnings about the abuse three years ago, [the] report shows it is continuing in the south of the country,” the BBC reports.

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Charity employees said the exploitation is so widespread that some women are refusing to go to distribution centres because people would assume they had offered their bodies for the aid, the broadcaster adds.

The report, from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), cited examples of women or girls marrying officials for a short period of time “for sexual services” in order to receive meals.

Humanitarian organisations have been accused of turning a blind eye to the abuse because using third parties and local officials was the only way of getting aid into dangerous parts of the country, the BBC says.

“Sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls has been ignored, it’s been known about and ignored for seven years,” says Danielle Spencer, a humanitarian adviser working for a charity.

She adds: “The UN and the system as it currently stands have chosen for women’s bodies to be sacrificed.”

Aid agencies say they have since tightened up their reporting and training procedures, and some no longer hand over aid to local councils.

A UNHCR spokesperson said it was aware of the allegations at the time but there had been insufficient information to identify and take action against any people or organisations, the BBC says.

The report comes as the charity sector struggles to repair its reputation after the Oxfam sex scandal in Haiti.