In Mangochi district of Malawi, increasing drought conditions are pushing desperate families to marry off their young daughters, seeing it as an opportunity to feed less mouths amid worsening hardship.
According to analysis, nearly two thirds of child marriages take place in areas most exposed to climate risks, leaving girls in Malawi among the most at risk.
Local rights groups warn that this trend not only robs girls of education and childhood but also exposes them to early pregnancies and lifelong poverty.
With Malawi’s economy dependent on rain fed agriculture, prolonged drought are worsening food insecurity, forcing families into such difficult and harmful decisions that affect young girls.
Authorities and humanitarian agencies are calling for urgent interventions to support struggling households and protect vulnerable girls who are exposed to marriage.
