When it comes to prostitution, Ukrainian and Russian girls come into the mind of every Lebanese man as such practices have long been associated with said nationalities. With the influx of refugees that has overwhelmed the country, the scale has tipped and the focus of all night activities has included Syrian females to the point of slavery.

A closer look at the number of Syrians resorting to prostitution would point out the swift uptick in figures, as desperation spreads day by day, not to mention the temptations to plunge into that shady raunchy world that are actually numerous given the appalling living conditions in refugee camps.

Sabah al-Tbouli, 20, fled war-torn Aleppo with her family, settled in Koura and turned her residence into a brothel. Sabah's mother, who is in her forties, as well as sisters all partake in the 'business' as young men from across the Koura district come for some erotic activity. Starting 20,000 Lebanese Pounds, the price goes up as services become more varied. Spending a whole day outside the apartment is subject to a special pricing that Sabah decided to keep confidential.

The Koura "market" is so vast, it spans Batroun, Chekka and mountain areas, such as Bcharre, that are said to be governed by a Syrian national named Sheikh Saddam.

The latter seems to be a seasoned expert in the 'business' with an inglorious 20-year-long timeline, says Sabah, as he had spent years trading with girls as well as selling them to black markets, and managing prostitution houses. Sheikh Saddam is said to have developed strong ties so as to shield himself from any legal threats and preserve his prerogatives in his "territory".

The way to establish a brothel is so easy and obvious that it might incite gasps and even laughter, as said Sheikh resorted to creating employment bureaus for girls to cover the sexual activity that is meant to be conducted. Said houses include Lebanese nationals from Donniyeh and Tripoli and have come to encompass Syrian females. The same price is applied to all girls with 100,000 Lebanese Pounds as the hourly fee; only the quarter is handed to the girl, while the rest goes to Sheikh Saddam.

In order to preserve the confidentiality of his business, Saddam sends girls with drivers so that his 'slaves' would not break the rules as it was forbidden for any of his subjects to be in direct relations with customers; a task that was exclusive to Sheikh Saddam.

With the large influx of Syrian nationals, girls have been forced into a life of slavery and prostitution that has become something of an easy chore, according to a displaced young woman sobbing.

19-year old Elissar from Edleb roams the north and wouldn't hesitate to expand her territory if prices are tempting. This was not the future she wanted for herself, yet, the deteriorating living conditions forced her into prostitution upon reaching Lebanon.

Elissar had met a gang chief called Bader al-Saksak via a friend who kicked off her less-than-prestigious career. However, working for al-Saksak proved to be tedious as he requires unwavering loyalty and makes sure that all his demands are answered.

Moreover, Elissar's passport had been confiscated by her employer during her stay in Lebanon not to mention being forced to comply with the clients' orders and being subject to physical abuse at times.

Another pressing issue is forcing teenage girls to marry Lebanese citizens so as to protect them from the tedious living conditions; a cover-up to the prostitution business that is flourishing here and there.

25-year-old Houweida had been taken into a Lebanese home and married a Lebanese citizen in hopes of a bright future. Yet, as time passed and her so-called husband consumed his marriage 'benefits', his behavior suddenly changed, forcing her to sell her body.