Behind the Hashtag: BBC Investigation Reveals Deaths Behind #DubaiPortaPotty This week, BBC News Africa and Thread Studios released a powerful investigation by journalist Runako Celina

The term “Porta-Potty” has a hidden and disturbing meaning beyond portable toilets. In the context of sexual exploitation, it refers to women and girls being dehumanized and abused in exchange for money, often linked to trafficking and power imbalances. This article exposes how the term is used, the harm it causes, and why greater awareness is urgently needed.