Extreme Weather Fuels Surge in Child Marriages in Pakistan

In the wake of the unprecedented floods that devastated Pakistan in 2022, a troubling rise in child marriages has been reported. This disturbing trend is linked to the severe economic insecurity exacerbated by climate change. As monsoon rains approached this year, 14-year-old Shamila and her 13-year-old sister Amina were married off in exchange for money, a decision made by their parents to mitigate the financial strain and flood threats. Shamila, who married a man twice her age, expressed a false sense of hope for a better life, only to face increasing despair.

Rising Child Marriages
Historically, Pakistan has struggled with high rates of child marriages, but recent events have intensified the issue. Rights workers and NGOs have highlighted a significant spike in underage marriages, particularly in areas heavily affected by the 2022 floods. The floods submerged a third of the country, displacing millions and destroying crops, leading to severe economic hardship. This dire situation has prompted families to marry off their daughters to secure financial assistance or alleviate poverty.

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Economic Hardship and "Monsoon Brides"
Mashooque Birhmani, founder of the NGO Sujag Sansar, reported a new phenomenon termed "monsoon brides," where families resort to marrying off young girls as a means of survival. In Dadu district, one of the hardest-hit areas, child marriages have surged. In Khan Mohammad Mallah village alone, 45 underage girls have been married off since the last monsoon, a stark increase from previous years.

Village elder Mai Hajani noted the drastic shift: “Before the 2022 rains, there was no need to marry girls so young. They used to contribute to agriculture and other work.”

Personal Stories of Suffering
Najma Ali, married at 14 in 2022, initially viewed her marriage as an opportunity for a better life, only to find herself struggling with poverty and hardship. The dowry paid to her family has led to further financial burdens, with her husband unable to repay the loans taken for the marriage. Najma now faces a bleak reality, as her village's resources have dwindled and her expectations have been shattered.

Similarly, 10-year-old Mehtab was at risk of being married off while her family was displaced in an aid camp. An intervention by Sujag Sansar helped delay her marriage, allowing her to pursue education and a sewing workshop. Despite this reprieve, Mehtab fears that the ongoing monsoon rains might bring renewed pressure to end her schooling and force her into marriage.

Impact and Response
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of child marriages globally, with the legal marriage age varying between 16 and 18 across regions. Despite significant progress reported by UNICEF in reducing child marriages, extreme weather events have threatened these gains. A UNICEF report indicated that the 2022 floods could result in an 18 percent increase in child marriages, erasing years of progress.

The plight of these young girls underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support systems to address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. The situation remains critical as Pakistan continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the floods and the broader challenges posed by climate-driven economic instability.

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