Local doctor: Sex trafficking increased following Nepal quake

Almost a month after an earthquake laid waste to much of Nepal, local relief efforts are continuing.

As Pocatello Dr. Fahim Rahim and his team of volunteers prepare for another trip to the disaster-stricken country, he said their primary focus will be on the children. He said that in the wake of the earthquake, child sex trafficking has tripled in Nepal.

“They blend in very well these traffickers and when the kids are out on the street just running around, I mean, literally, they will just – they’ll grab them. I mean, it’s just like a kidnapping,” said David Coffin, who will join Rahim on his second trip to Nepal.

Rahim has just opened an office in Old Town Pocatello out of which he’s directing his relief efforts.

About 100 of Rahim’s volunteers remain on the ground in Nepal where they’re busy constructing shelters.

He said they’re also working to combat diarrhea and other outbreaks that have arisen as a result of contaminated drinking water.

“I’ve worked with local organizations and sent a medical team to address that,” said Rahim.

Meanwhile, Rahim is asking the public to put pressure on the U.S. government to increase the amount of aid it’s providing to the relief effort.

“If I give a dollar for donation to work, I do not expect 9 cents to be lost in the middle and 1 cent reach the ground,” said Rahim.

Rahim leaves for Nepal on June 26.

His office is located in the Sonnenkalb Building at 123 N. Main Street.