Nearly 286 girls have fled their homes and sought shelter from Association for Termination of Female Genital Mutilation (ATFGM) in Masanga village, Tarime District in Mara Region.

ATFGM Masanga Executive Director, Sr Stella Mgaya, told the ‘Daily News’ on Wednesday evening that about 286 girls had by then reported to them seeking refuge following the ongoing female genital mutilation (FGM) that is currently underway in the district and other parts of the region.

She said that the girls will be housed in their ATFGM Masanga Camp until December 31 this year, when the exercise is expected to stop in this season. “We are giving them accommodation, food, medical attention as well as clothes to put on, because some had to escape with only their school uniforms worn,” she said.

However, Sr Stella expressed concern that many girls are likely to come to their camp; over what she described a large number of them had reported to have been subjected to the painful cut in this season in the area.

“Our target was to save 600 girls but unfortunately many of them have been mutilated,” she said. Besides Tarime District this time, the executive director said that many girls came as far as from other areas including Butiama, Loliondo and Kenyan neigbhouring villages.

ATFGM Masanga Centre is now being seen as safe refuge by many girls who tend to reject undergoing the traditional cut which requires that a girl must submit to, in order to be married.