'Human trafficking is a growing problem across the Middle East'

Human trafficking in the Middle East is becoming a growing problem due to the region's heavy dependence on expatriate manpower in all trade aspects, an American scholar said.

While referring to an International Organisation for Migration report, Otwin Marenin, of Washington State University, said about 14 million migrants and about six million refugees live in the Middle East.

Marenin said, "The Middle East region is unusual for its heavy dependence on expatriate labour, from highly skilled professional workers to help running oil production and transportation facilities and less skilled workers in the service industry and domestic employment."

According to him, the UAE is host to a foreign population of about 1.7 million, who make up about 85 per cent of the population.

Marenin said the absence of hard data made it difficult to say how big the trafficking problem was.

"Limiting the scope of trafficking and increasing the protection of victims requires public awareness and commitment."