DC

As the Iraqi army moves to retake the city of Mosul from the terrorist group ISIL, or Daesh, aid groups are preparing to assist as many as 1.5 million civilians who might be affected.

However, the UN and partners say they urgently need more than US$280 million for the operation, and they warn that time is running out.

That’s the message UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, delivered to international foreign and defence ministers meeting in Washington, DC, this week.

An Afghan teenager is using rap music to advocate for an end to child marriage.

Sonita Alizadeh, 19, has released a music video called ‘Brides for Sale’ which highlights the ordeal of young girls forced into marriage by their families.

The issue is personal for Sonita as her own mother had attempted to sell her to a potential husband: first when she was only 10 years old and then again when she was 16.

Sonita now attends music school in the United States and hopes to become a women’s rights lawyer.