Completely intolerable and largely unreported

There would be no surprise at all in what the NY Times is reporting were it not for the case that it is so seldom mentioned:

War and violence at home, exploitative smugglers and perilous seas along the way, an uncertain welcome and future on a foreign continent — these are some of the risks faced by tens of thousands of migrants who continue to make their way to Europe from the Middle East and beyond. But at each step of the way, the dangers are amplified for women.

Interviews with dozens of migrants, social workers and psychologists caring for traumatized new arrivals across Germany suggest that the current mass migration has been accompanied by a surge of violence against women. From forced marriages and sex trafficking to domestic abuse, women report violence from fellow refugees, smugglers, male family members and even European police officers. There are no reliable statistics for sexual and other abuse of female refugees.

The article argues that with refugee families the complexities of violence become much worse. Removing men from their families in such situations may increase the family’s pain and anxiety.

See also how to best help In the global refugee crisis.u