At least 80 school going children between the ages of 12 and 18 are rescued every year by Amudat district authorities from the risks of being married off to rich men by their parents.

Authorities say the surging number has been as a result of gender-based violence which is caused by poverty and high illiteracy levels among others.

The principal assistant secretary Amudat, Alfred Logwe says due to increased gender-based violence and poverty, girls have been forced to marry men older than them for wealth.

According to Logwe, most of the parents who force their children into marriages never went to school and this he attributed to lack of awareness and inadequate schools in the district.

He says there are three secondary schools and 13 primary schools in the whole district, noting that out the eleven sub-counties, only three have secondary schools, of which some are still under construction.

The district community development officer, Michael Longok says there are inadequate government facilities such as police posts in most sub-counties, which would provide security to young girls.

However, with the establishment of GBV stop centres by NGOs like Action Aid in the district, more girls have been rescued and taken back to school.