Windhoek: The Kunene Region on Thursday commemorated the World Day against Trafficking in Persons at Etanga village under the theme 'Trapped Behind the Scam', urging an escalation in awareness and action against human trafficking.According to Namibia Press Agency, the event was part of the annual global observance on 30 July. In a keynote address delivered on her behalf, Minister of International Relations and Trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, revealed that Namibia recorded 10 new trafficking cases between March 2025 and April 2026, an increase from six cases reported in the previous period. She highlighted how Namibian youth are being lured into online scams with false promises of employment abroad, pointing out that unemployment, poverty, and inequality are significant factors making individuals vulnerable to trafficking.The reported cases included Namibians trafficked to Myanmar and others involving a Zambian girl and Angolan nationals. Ashipala-Musavyi noted Kunene's vulnerability due to its proximity to Angola and porous northern transit networks, affecting women, men, and children. She warned against traffickers using fake job ads, online platforms, and false promises to exploit victims, emphasizing that traffickers can often be people familiar to the victims, such as relatives or friends.She further explained that Namibia's efforts to combat trafficking are directed by the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2018 and the National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2023-2027. Kunene Police Commander, Commissioner Eric Clay, also spoke at the event, noting two trafficking cases in Etanga between 2020 and 2022, with victims receiving assistance and reunion with their families through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare. He urged for a collective approach involving government, traditional leaders, civil society, and communities to tackle trafficking and its underlying causes. The public is encouraged to report trafficking incidents to the Namibian Police at 10111 or t he GBV Helpline at 106.