Afghan families forced to sell daughters as child brides to get money for food: Report

As chaos continues to tighten its grip on Afghanistan after Taliban takeover, families in war-torn nation are forced to sell ir young daughters as child brides and use money to buy food. As Afghan ecomy continues to crumble, CNN stated that an Afghan far was forced to sell his nine-year-old daughter to a 55-year-old man as a child bride pleading that buyer does t beat young child. Reportedly, it was price that Abdul Malik had to pay to feed rest of family starving as country’s ecomy collapses. 

nine-year-old girl, Parwana Malik told CNN on 22 October that her buyer is an “old man” and she worries that he will beat her and force her to work in his house. However, her parents have reportedly said that y have choice. media outlet ted that for four years, her family lived in Afghanistan’s displacement camp in Badghis province. While y were surviving on humanitarian aid and carrying out menial work to earn a few dollars, ir life specifically got harder since Taliban took power in Afghanistan on 15 August. 

report ted that international aid for Afghanistan has dried up and ecomy of country is collapsing, families such as Malik’s are unable to afford basic necessities like food. Her far already sold her 12-year-old sister several months ago. Reportedly, she is one of many girls who have been sold into marri as country’s humanitarian crisis escalated. scarcity of food in country has pushed some families to make devastating choices especially as winter is approaching. 

Mohammad Naiem Nazem, a human rights activist in Badghis reportedly said, “Day by day, numbers are increasing of families selling ir children...Lack of food, lack of work, families feel y have to do this."

22.8 million to face severe hunger: UN

Even United Nations (UN) ncies have warned that crisis in Afghanistan is worsening and have allocated millions for emergency aid to assist vulnerable population of 20 million. A recent report issued by Food Security and Agriculture Cluster of Afghanistan, co-led by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations and World Food Program (WFP), more than half of Afghanistan's population (a record 22.8 million) will experience extreme food insecurity from vember. WFP report has stated that combined effects of COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, drought, and ecomic crisis have impacted livelihoods and access to food.

(IM: AP)