"Deep cuts to foreign aid by United States President Donald Trump this year, coupled with reductions from other donor countries, have forced the closure of thousands of schools and youth centres in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, devastating critical child protection programmes. The consequences are dire: Girls forced into marriage, children as young as 10 pushed into hard labour, and some girls as young as 12 coerced into prostitution."
"In rare moments of solitude, between beatings from her husband, 17-year-old Hasina weeps for the school that once offered her sanctuary in an otherwise merciless world. Since Myanmar's military killed her father in 2017, forcing her to flee to Bangladesh with her mother and sisters, school had been her refuge from camp predators and the threat of forced marriage. Then in June, when Hasina was 16, her teacher announced the school's funding had been cut. The school was closing."
"With educational opportunities eliminated and her family fearing worsening conditions from aid reductions, Hasina like hundreds of other underage girls was quickly married off. Many, including Hasina, now endure abuse from their husbands. I dreamed of being something, of working for the community, Hasina says softly. The The Associated Press news agency is withholding her full name to protect her from retaliation by her husband. My life is destroyed."
Deep reductions in foreign aid have forced closure of thousands of schools and youth centres across Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, removing vital child protection programmes. The loss of education and safe spaces has led to girls being forced into marriage, children as young as 10 entering hard labour, and some girls as young as 12 coerced into prostitution. Despite reports of significant aid contributions, on-the-ground conditions remain catastrophic. Individual cases show schooling provided refuge from violence and forced marriage, but funding cuts quickly converted educational sanctuaries into pathways to early marriage, abuse and loss of childhood.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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