Trafficking & Natural Disasters
Climate change is fueling more frequent and severe natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. These events don’t just destroy property and displace communities; they destabilize the very systems meant to protect people. In the aftermath, traffickers exploit the chaos, preying on those who have lost homes, income, and access to services.
Our work confronts this hidden crisis. We advocate for disaster recovery efforts to protect vulnerable populations, hold traffickers accountable, and center the voices and leadership of survivors. A truly just climate response must include anti-trafficking protections and trauma-informed support for those most at risk.
How LA’s Climate Emergencies Shaped Our Advocacy
In Los Angeles, the January 2025 wildfires brought the intersection of climate change and human trafficking into sharp focus. As entire neighborhoods were evacuated and emergency response systems struggled to meet the scale of need, our team witnessed how displaced individuals and workers recruited for recovery efforts, especially those already experiencing marginalization, faced the risks of exploitation. This moment made clear what we already knew: disaster response cannot be effective without being trauma-informed and rooted in anti-trafficking protections. It pushed us to press even harder for policy change that centers survivors and prevents harm before it begins.
Video: Natural Disasters & Human Trafficking
How Natural Disasters Increase the Risk of Human Trafficking – And What We Can Do About It.
Learn more about the connection between natural disasters and human trafficking, and how we can prevent exploitation before it happens. While the press conference mentioned in the video has already taken place, the information remains relevant and timely.
Our Approach
Policy Advocacy
Following the fires, we immediately began our advocacy efforts, contacting both the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and City Council. We urged local leaders to embed trafficking prevention into disaster response through public awareness, implementing ethical procurement standards, and mandatory training for City and County staff involved in planning and recovery.
A key milestone in this work came on April 1, when the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion introduced by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. This motion directs the County to incorporate anti-trafficking measures into its disaster preparedness and response systems, a crucial step toward protecting vulnerable communities before, during, and after a crisis.
- Press Conference: Advocates, Public Officials, and Survivors of Human Trafficking Call for Urgent Protections for Workers During LA's Post-Fire Recovery (English, Spanish)
- Press Release: Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative Support Landmark LA County Motion to Prevent Human Trafficking After Disasters
- LA County Board Motion by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell: Preventing Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters
- LAist Article: Advocates Warn of Worker Exploitation in LA Fire Rebuilding Effort
Public Awareness
To support a coordinated and informed response risks of trafficking after natural disasters, we’ve developed a range of practical tools for community members, service providers, and recovery workers:
- Social Media Toolkit: Designed to raise public awareness during and after disasters, this toolkit provides ready-to-use posts, graphics, and messaging to help communities recognize and prevent trafficking.
- Flyers for Recovery Workers: Distributed in areas affected by natural disasters, these multilingual flyers educate workers recruited for cleanup and rebuilding on how to recognize the warning signs of trafficking, and where to seek help, including national and local hotlines to access support services.
- Guide for Service Providers: A short, easy-to-use guide to help service providers spot signs of trafficking during disaster response and connect people to the help they need.
- Training Video: This video from the Office on Trafficking in Persons helps frontline workers learn how to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking during and after disasters or emergencies.
- Watch Training: Preventing and Responding to Human Trafficking
Real World Impact
We put together real examples from past disasters to show how human trafficking can increase after natural emergencies. Many people don’t see the connection, so these case studies help raise awareness and show that this has happened before and can happen again if we’re not prepared.
To deepen understanding, we also recommend reading The New Yorker article that offers an in-depth look at how natural disasters create conditions traffickers exploit. It’s a powerful piece that brings national attention to this often-overlooked crisis.
Take Action
If you’ve witnessed or heard about trafficking risks during or after a natural disaster, we want to hear from you.
Please take a few minutes to complete our short questionnaire. Whether you’re a service provider, frontline worker, or community member, your insights help us better understand what’s happening on the ground and strengthen our advocacy, training, and response strategies.
