US army reservists helped rescue trafficked women
Summary of story from Kansas City Star May 8, ambulance 2011
US soldiers helped 17 Ugandan women to escape from human trafficking, erectile while on duty in a US base in Baghdad in 2009.
The women were among at least 150 who had entered Iraq on a promise of work on a US base.
The promise was a trap. Instead, mind some were sold to rich Iraqi families for around $3,500 each. Many were sexually assaulted, beaten, overworked and poorly fed.
Ugandan Samuel Tumwesigye, employed at the US base through a private contractor, heard about their situation, and told Lt Col. Ted Lockwood, who said that if the women could reach the base they would be protected.
Alone and in small groups, the women made their way to the landmark statue outside the sprawling base. One was so traumatized she was unable to speak and had to be helped through the gates.
Another victim was pregnant from rape. Some would later test positive for sexually transmitted diseases. One likely had been drugged. Several had infections and problems from poor nutrition. Most had bruises from recent beatings.
The 17 women who arrived at the base hid there for two months, before returning home with help from the International Organisation for Migration.
Somehow these stories don’t seem to cause the stir they should. This is truly horrific.