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New study finds child marriage rising among most vulnerable Syrian refugees
Lebanon
An alarming rise in child marriages has been seen among the most vulnerable Syrian refugee populations in Lebanon, according to a newly completed survey conducted by UNFPA, the American University of Beirut and Sawa for…
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Women’s health needs persist in conflict-affected Kachin State
Myanmar
When Dr. Kyaw Linn Htun arrived at Thar Ga Ya, a camp for displaced people, almost 20 women were already lined up to see him. The women were all displaced from their homes when the armed conflict in Myanmar’s Kachin…
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From teen mother to mentor in the Comoros
Comoros
When Jiminie Moussa was 16, she began dating a man who was old enough to be her father. Her family in Ngazidja, the largest island in the Comoros, tolerated the relationship because her boyfriend supported her studies…
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Thousands reached in Somalia reproductive health campaign
Somalia
It was early morning when a young sheikh, Abdi Iidan, and his wife joined the long queue leading to a tent in Morodijeex, in north-western Somalia. Mr. Iidan stood out from the crowd; women dominated the queue.
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Initiative brings sexual health information to remote parts of Cambodia
Cambodia
“I still remember when my neighbour experienced complications during delivery. She passed away on the way to the referral hospital. It was terrifying,” Kem Lean, 16, told UNFPA in the northern Cambodian province of…
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Restoring reproductive health access for millions in Boko Haram-affected areas
Nigeria
A brutal attack by Boko Haram forced Zainab Abubakar, 28, and her six children to flee their home in Gamboru Ngala, a northern Nigerian local government area. “I was one month pregnant when I left Gamboru Ngala,” Ms.…
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Women’s needs staggering as winter grips Aleppo, UN convoy finds
Syrian Arab Republic
Women’s health, hygiene and protection needs are staggering in the bomb-scarred city of Aleppo, UNFPA observers reported following a United Nations interagency needs assessment conducted from 1 to 12 January.
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Refugees spread the word about safe birth services in Uganda
South Sudan, Uganda
Things looked bad for the family of Flora and Patrick Anduga in war-ravaged South Sudan. The couple increasingly feared for the safety and welfare of their two children – and the baby they were expecting.
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Changing minds to help child brides in Cameroon
Cameroon
“My father forced me into marriage at the age of 14 – to a man I barely even knew,” Aminatou Bello, now 16, told UNFPA in Maroua, in the extreme north of Cameroon. The marriage quickly turned violent. “I was being…
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After marriage at age 9, a former child bride gets a second chance
Yemen
Shukria was married off at just 9 years old. The wedding was arranged to settle a debt her family owed to a 50-year-old man. “He told my father he would forget the debt and give even more money if he could take me as…
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In Costa Rica, from teen mom to girls’ rights advocate
Costa Rica
When Hillary Bustos Gómez found herself pregnant at 16, she was not prepared for the challenges ahead. “The first months were the hardest. I couldn’t get used to the idea. ‘What am I going to do with a baby, all by…
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Not just a women’s issue: Men in Myanmar take on gender-based violence
Myanmar
Five years ago, armed conflict engulfed Nam San Yam Village in northern Myanmar, forcing Aung Htwe to flee for his life. Since then, he has lived in the Maina AG displacement camp, unable to return home. Yet even in…
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