The Aftermath of Human Trafficking in Ethiopia: Psycho-Social Impacts of Human Trafficking among North Wollo Victim Returnees from Arab nations

Abstract

Human trafficking remains prime global concern due to its multifaceted causes and horrible consequences continue to be experienced by thousands of people including men, women and children in different parts of the world. Many lost their lives and others are living with post traumatic experiences associated with abuse and sufferings they experienced at the hand of their traffickers not only in the place of destination but also all along with illegal border crossings. This study examined the aftermath of human trafficking by scrutinizing the lived experience of Ethiopian migrants returned from Arab countries including their parents at home. A cross sectional study design was employed. Survey, in-depth interview, key informant interview and FGDs were data collection tools. Majority of the returnees (76%) in this study are women and 59 % of them were between the ages of 19 and 25. The study findings uncover the harrowing effect of human trafficking on the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of men, women and children trapped in its network. Victims have suffered from a range of physical and psychological health issues stemming from abusive living and working condition, and brutal physical and emotional attacks in the hands of traffickers. After coming back home, victims have continued to experience as equal pain as they have once suffered while they were under their proprietor’s control as the psychological trauma of abuse and exploitation keep them hunting until now. The outcome of human trafficking transcends beyond the victim themselves to their families in different ways. Besides the financial risk of sending their children hoping more money in the near future, migrant families may also suffer from the worst scenario. This happened when migrants, after years of abuse and exploitation, return to home with physical injuries and various psychosocial problems which adversely affects the survival of the entire family.

Keywords: Aftermath of trafficking, trafficking victims, physical abuse, returnees, Ethiopian migrants