(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The reports about the way Syrian women have been abused by local men delivering international humanitarian aid in the region is both unsurprising and deeply shocking.
It is unsurprising because charities such as Care International and the International Rescue Committee have been raising concerns about the problem since 2015 and because it is related to the abuse of power for sexual purposes that revelations about the aid agencies has already demonstrated.
It is scandalous because it is a manifest crime to force vulnerable women to sell their body for food and basic supplies, as appears to have happened, especially international humanitarian aid. As for the scale of the problem, the United Nations Population Fund conducted an assessment of gender-based violence in Syria last year in its Voices from Syria 2018 report — which alleged that refugee aid was being exchanged for sexual favours in various governorates, especially in the south of the country.
It seems, again unsurprisingly, that women without male protectors, such as widows or divorcees, are particularly exploited. The UN Population Fund denies that it uses local councils to deliver aid — a particular cause of concern. So does the UK Department for International Development. But what is important in respect of British aid is that the department makes an effort to verify whether and how aid is delivered to the recipients. Close monitoring of how aid is administered is crucial.
The alleged abuse is said to have started years ago but still continuing despite warnings it was happening.
Aid worker Danielle Spencer claimed that a blind eye was being turned to sexual exploitation to ensure aid continued to be delivered to communities suffering in the civil war. She told the BBC: 'Somewhere there has been a decision made that it is OK for women's bodies to continue to be used, abused, violated in order for aid to be delivered for a larger group of people.
Women and girls often refused to go to distribution centres without a male 'chaperone and others would not go because it would have been assumed that they had offered sex to get food.
This repellent exploitation of women and girls who are already traumatised must be stopped.
It is as despicable when carried out by Syrian men abusing their position as it is when internationals do so. The UN organisation, Unicef says that it is introducing a community-based complaints mechanism and more training for its partners.
This is an overdue response to an appalling abuse of privilege by its workers. The UN and the aid sector is meant to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
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