Gaza Crisis Spurs Rise in Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancies

After two years of war, girls in Gaza face mounting pressure into early marriage. A UN report shows hundreds of girls aged 14 to 16 were granted marriage permissions in just four months of 2025. Many unions go unregistered as systems collapse and families seek protection. This surge drives adolescent pregnancy rates higher amid shattered health services. Young mothers now face life-threatening childbirth risks, while teenage survivors account for a growing share of gender-based violence cases. The report warns that child marriage is a form of gender-based violence that steals girls’ childhoods, health and education. Safe spaces offering counselling, life-skills training and cash support have been opened. Donors are urged to scale up funding to protect Gaza’s next generation.

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