Girls in Somalia suffering FGM in coronavirus lockdown 'with cutters travelling from door to door'

While the practice is recognised as a human rights violation, 98 per cent of girls aged between the age of five and 11 in Somalia have been cut, Maya Oppenheim reports

FGM, which can cause a lifetime of severe health problems and pain, is commonly conducted in school holidays in urban areas or during the rainy season in rural regions in Somalia (AFP/Getty)

Girls in Somalia are being forced to endure female genital mutilation (FGM) at home during the coronavirus lockdown with perpetrators travelling from house to house to carry out the practice, a charity has said.

Plan International, a global children’s rights charity, say they are seeing increased calls about FGM incidents across Somalia where schools have been shut to control the spread of Covid-19.

Sadia Allin, Plan International’s Head of Mission in Somalia, said: “The lockdown is being seen as an opportune time for the procedure to be carried out in the home with ample time for healing.