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Hard times raise levels of abuse in Swaziland
Pamela moves lethargically down the queue of trucks waiting for customs clearance at the Lavumisa border post between southern Swaziland and South Africa; an unlikely place for a 13-year-old but, hungry and hopeless, she says selling herself for food to truckers is her only alternative.
Facing food and water shortages, Swazi children have become particularly vulnerable to abuse.
About 40 percent of Swaziland's one million people are facing acute food and water shortages; coping strategies have worn thin and frustrations are running high, all contributing to rising abuse and risky behaviour.
"There was some food last year, now there is nothing," Pamela said as she eyed the line of trucks for potential trade. She wore a faded pink T-shirt and the grey skirt from an old school uniform, which was easier to remove for sex than jeans, she said.
