Girls are being pulled out of school to marry or spend hours making dangerous treks for water, aid agencies warned
“I got married when we couldn’t afford my education. It was my parents’ choice,” said 19-year-old Hamda. “I wanted to continue my education, but there wasn’t enough for my family.”
Hamda’s story is one of many. Aid workers have warned that the growing hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa is forcing girls out of school, with many married off to ease the burden on families and bring in a dowry.
As is common in their home of Somaliland, Hamda’s family made their living from rearing livestock, but the crippling drought currently torturing the Horn of Africa wiped out their income. They became “destitute”.
Hamda was married, aged 18, to a 27-year-old man. “At first, I was sad about it, but later, I adapted to the situation,” she said.
Badra, a 16-year-old girl who lives in the Maroodi-Jeeh region of Somaliland, dropped out of school eight months ago to help her family collect water, walking a four hour round trip most days. Some in the community make the trip multiple times a day.
There has been no rain in her area for 11 months, according to community leaders, with 2022 marking the fourth consecutive year without enough rain. The community is dependent on livestock-rearing for income and food, but cannot keep its animals alive.
Badra said she missed going to school; she had wanted to be a teacher.
The teen girls forced into marriage by struggling families in the Horn of Africa hunger crisis
Girls are being pulled out of school to marry or spend hours making dangerous treks for water, aid agencies warned
This shit is sad man, the men failed these women big time.
