Child marriages in Gaza soar by 123% as families face war-induced hardships
- The UN Population Fund reports a 123% rise in child marriages in Gaza between January and June 2026.
- Emergency court records show at least 400 girls aged 14 to 16 were permitted to marry in four months of 2025.
- UNFPA cites poverty, hunger, school closures and lost income under the ongoing conflict as the causes.
- Girls are being forced into marriage by circumstance rather than choice, says UNFPA representative Nestor Owomuhangi.
Source: khaleejtimes.com
Get 100 stories a day on the app
Read, watch & listen · Free on iOS & Android
