Two teenage girls were admitted to Garowe General Hospital after they were raped, according to HOL media, which was confirmed by the hospital administration, who conducted an investigation and confirmed the rape of the girl.
The two girls, aged 8 and 10, are from displaced families living in Garowe city, and were children who worked in the Balashka to help manage their family’s daily lives.
The Puntland Criminal Investigation Agency (CID) is investigating the case. Despite various contacts with the agency’s officials, we were unable to obtain any further details.
Reports we received indicate that the two girls were picked up by a civilian in a car, who took them to an open area outside Garowe city, where he raped them, and then left them where he committed the crime.
No one has been arrested for the rape, although security agencies are conducting various investigations to find the perpetrator.
In recent years, Garowe and Puntland have seen an increasing number of children, especially young girls, being sent by their families to work in the Balashk to help support their families.
This has increased the risks these children face, including rape and other abuses.
