When Russian troops surged into Ukraine on 24 February, numerous faith-based groups in neighboring countries, originally involved in providing protection to women and girls in danger of being trafficked to the sex trade, found themselves in the refugee rescue and assistance business.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, more than two million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighboring countries since February 24th, making it the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. As nearly all men 18-60 are staying in Ukraine to fight the Russians, most of the refugees are women and girls, and many are being targeted by human traffickers. They tend to target young women, ages 16-24 for prostitution, preying on their desperation and naivety, offering rides to supposedly “safe” locations.
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