Rights Group Demands Aid for Cambodia Scam Victims
- Thousands of foreign nationals recently released or escaped from Cambodian scamming compounds urgently require humanitarian assistance, according to Amnesty International.
- Amnesty International interviewed 35 survivors released or escaped within the last six weeks.
- Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International's regional research director, stated, "The people we have spoken to are deeply afraid.
Cambodia Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Scam Compound Survivors Need Aid
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Thousands of foreign nationals recently released or escaped from Cambodian scamming compounds urgently require humanitarian assistance, according to Amnesty International. these individuals, many of whom were trafficked, face immediate dangers lacking basic necessities like money, passports, and medical care.
Details of Abuse and Exploitation
Amnesty International interviewed 35 survivors released or escaped within the last six weeks. The testimonies revealed widespread abuse,including rape,torture,and denial of medical care. Two women interviewed were pregnant as a result of rape by compound managers. Survivors also reported witnessing deaths due to restricted medical access and described instances of brutal punishment, such as a man having a finger cut off.
Call for Government intervention
Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s regional research director, stated, “The people we have spoken to are deeply afraid. They urgently need their own governments to step in and help.” Many survivors lack the resources to return home, lacking passports or funds for travel.
Escapes and Abandonment
Some survivors were forced to escape, while others left after compound managers abandoned the operations. The organization’s report highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to address the crisis and provide support to these vulnerable individuals.
“They wont to return home, but many have no passports or no money, let alone enough to purchase a flight out of the country.” – Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International Regional Research Director