Ethiopian Review Drought Leading to ‘Dramatic’ Increase in Child Marriage, Unicef Warns

Hunger in Horn of Africa and 600,000. children not attending school push 'desperate parents' to get more girls married early.

The head of Unicef stated that drought-stricken areas in Ethiopia are experiencing "dramatic" increases of child marriages as the worst climate-induced emergency in 40 years pushes people further to the brink.

Three consecutively failed rainy seasons have caused hunger, malnutrition, and mass displacement for millions of people in Horn of Africa including parts of Ethiopia and Somalia as well as Kenya, Kenya, and Djibouti.

Many Ethiopian girls are now facing the prospect of being married young. Their parents want to increase their financial resources by giving dowries to their husbands' families. They also hope that their daughters will be protected and fed by wealthy families, according Catherine Russell, Unicef executive director.

According to the UN Children's Agency, some areas in the Oromia region have experienced dramatic increases in this practice. They cited data from local governments.

Child marriage cases in East Hararghe, which is home to 2.7million people, increased by 51% from 70 in 2020-21 to the same period one year later.

Unicef stated that it was one of six areas in Oromia affected by drought to see a sharp increase in child marriages. The number of cases has almost quadrupled in these areas. Unicef received data this week and found that 672 child marriage cases were recorded in February and August 2013. However, the number rose to 2,282 in the six-month period from September last year to March this year according to local government figures.

Russell stated that "we're seeing increases child marriages that are quite dramatic", noting that over 600,000 children have been dropped out of school due to the drought.

She said that girls who are not educated or forced to leave their home for school increase the risk of gender-based violence, and child marriage.

Russell stated, "These people have their daughters married because they are desperate. They're afraid of violence. They're afraid for their safety. They need resources.

She said that the impact was long-lasting and "debilitating" to the girls. It really reduces their chances and puts them in a better position to have children sooner; they are more likely get children close together; they're also less likely to be able to negotiate safe sex. These girls are facing one problem after another.

Ethiopia's attempts to reduce child marriages, which are some of the highest in the world, may be hampered by the drought. Demographic data from 2016 shows that 40% of east African girls marry before they turn 18, and 14% of them marry before their 15th birthday.

Russell, who visited drought-stricken areas this week, stated that she had spoken with Sahle-Work Zewde the president of the country about the matter and that it was a top priority for her.

In the areas affected by the drought, severe acute malnutrition rates are rising. Admission rates for children aged under five years were 15% higher than last February. Russell visited Unicef's treatment sites for malnourished children and found that many people are being forced to drink contaminated drinking water. This puts them at risk for various diseases, including cholera.

She said that although she has not seen the disease yet, everyone is concerned about cholera. There have been more than 1,000 measles cases in Somalia and 16 deaths.

Russell shared concerns with many humanitarian workers that the focus on Ukraine is stealing attention and funds from other crises and conflicts around the globe.

"I have been to that area, and I know how hard it is. She said that while I don't think anyone in Ukraine should be denied coverage, as they also need resources, she felt the international community is not very good at doing two things simultaneously.

She said that Unicef's emergency drought appeal to the Horn of Africa had raised approximately 20% of its $250m target (PS200m). She welcomed the PS17m pledge by the UK in January, which she pointed out was for the same region. However, it wasn't enough.

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