Afghanistan's Lost Generation: The Orphan Crisis

Afghanistan has suffered four decades of conflict, poverty, and humanitarian crises. UNICEF has identified Afghanistan as the worst place to be born in the world, with children facing violence, poverty, child mortality, malnutrition, forced marriages, and sexual abuse on a daily basis. The child mortality rate in Afghanistan is particularly high, and life expectancy at birth is considered the lowest in international records. The country also has the highest number of terrorist attacks aimed at schools, particularly girls' schools.

The total number of children orphaned in Afghanistan is unknown, but there are thousands. Many of these children are taken in by members of their extended family or community, as Afghan culture, based on Muslim principles, makes it obligatory to help children in need. However, some orphaned children are treated as slaves or discriminated against by their adoptive families.

Orphaned children are the poorest demographic in Afghanistan. Many must work or beg from the age of five to survive, and only a fortunate few receive a basic education.

Orphans are often treated as slaves by their adoptive families

Afghanistan has suffered four decades of conflict and poverty, resulting in millions of orphans. While Afghan culture, rooted in Muslim principles, dictates that orphans should be taken in and cared for, this is not always the reality for these vulnerable children.

Orphans in Afghanistan are often treated as a source of free labour by their adoptive families, who may view them as little more than slaves. This is particularly true when the adoptive family is already struggling financially, which is often the case in a country where over 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Adoptive parents may discriminate against the orphans in favour of their biological children, neglecting the orphans' education and wellbeing. This is despite the fact that Islam places great importance on the protection and proper treatment of orphans. The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, "Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his account for every hair over which he passed his hand."

The consequences of this neglect are severe and far-reaching. Orphaned children in Afghanistan are often forced to work from a young age, sometimes as young as five, to repay their adoptive families or simply to survive. This results in a lack of education, exposure to police violence, and health issues caused by pollution and extreme climate conditions.

The situation is further exacerbated by the limited infrastructure and resources available in the country. There is a shortage of hospitals, and those that do exist often lack the necessary equipment and trained medical staff. Access to clean drinking water is also a significant issue, with approximately 70% of the population lacking this basic necessity.

The combination of these factors results in Afghanistan having one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. It is also common for orphaned children to be forced into early marriages, which can lead to serious health problems for young women who are not physically ready for pregnancy.

To address these issues, organisations such as the Ummah Welfare Trust and Hayat Orphanage are working to build orphanages and provide orphaned children with access to education, healthcare, and other essential services. These efforts aim to protect and empower vulnerable children, giving them the opportunity to break free from the cycle of poverty and abuse.

40% of young women were married before the age of 18

Afghanistan has suffered four decades of conflict and poverty, with families knowing little else. Orphaned children are the poorest demographic in Afghanistan, with many having to work or beg from the age of five to survive.

The country has been described as the "worst place to be born in the world", with children subjected to extreme poverty and violence on a daily basis. The situation is critical: child mortality, malnutrition, forced marriages, and sexual abuse are all prevalent issues. Almost half of the population lives below the poverty line, and the child mortality rate is particularly high.

Compounding these issues, between 2000 and 2009, around 40% of young women were married before the age of 18. Child marriage is driven by gender inequality and the belief that girls are inferior to boys. It is also influenced by cultural and traditional perceptions of gender roles, which restrict girls' agency and power to make decisions about their lives.

Girls who are married early are less likely to remain in school and are more likely to experience domestic violence, discrimination, abuse, and poor mental health. They are also at a higher risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. The practice has been linked to detrimental consequences, such as the inability to obtain an education and skills to work independently, as well as physical, emotional, and mental trauma.

In Afghanistan, marriage is often viewed as a transaction, with girls seen as a source of economic value and domestic labour for their future household. Families living in poverty may marry off their daughters early to reduce the cost of living and receive a dowry from the groom. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as child brides have limited future employment opportunities.

The Taliban's takeover in August 2021 has exacerbated the situation, with reports of an increase in child marriages and selling of young girls. The ban on girls attending school beyond the sixth grade, which is when girls are historically most vulnerable to being set up for marriage, has further heightened the risk.

To address child marriage, sustained pressure from the international community is needed to encourage the Taliban to reopen schools. Additionally, a system involving schools and government agencies is essential to educate communities about the harmful impacts of child marriage.

Children are forced to work or beg from the age of 5

Afghanistan has been ravaged by war and conflict for decades, and the country's children have suffered the most. The country is facing a massive humanitarian crisis, with millions of Afghans in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The situation has been further exacerbated by the recent Taliban takeover, which has resulted in an economic collapse and a loss of foreign aid.

Due to extreme poverty and a lack of opportunities, many children in Afghanistan are forced to work or beg on the streets from a young age. It is common to see children as young as four or five working or begging alongside their parents or caregivers. These children often work long and arduous hours, selling various items, polishing shoes, or offering to shine shoes. Many of them are the primary breadwinners for their families and are forced to choose between working and going to school.

The increase in child labour and begging is a direct result of the dire economic situation in the country. Families have lost their incomes, and children are forced to contribute to support their families. The situation is particularly difficult for female-led households, as the Taliban's severe restrictions on female employment have left many women without a source of income. As a result, children in these households are more likely to be sent out to work or beg on the streets.

The Taliban's ban on girls' education has also played a significant role in the increase in child labour. With no access to education, girls are more likely to be married off at a young age or forced to work or beg to support their families.

The Afghan government and international organisations have implemented various programmes and policies to address the issue of child labour and begging. However, the lack of resources and coordination between different agencies has hindered their effectiveness. The Taliban's restrictions on media and information have also made it difficult to monitor and address the issue.

The situation for children in Afghanistan remains dire, and without significant intervention and support, it is unlikely to improve. The international community must come together to address the economic crisis and provide much-needed assistance to prevent further suffering for Afghanistan's children.

35% of newborns are underweight

Afghanistan has been deemed the "worst place to be born in the world" by UNICEF. The country's children face extreme poverty, violence, child mortality, malnutrition, forced marriages, and sexual abuse on a daily basis. The child mortality rate in Afghanistan is particularly high, and life expectancy at birth is considered the lowest in the world.

Compounding the issue of child mortality is the fact that 35% of newborns are underweight. This is largely due to the lack of proper medical assistance during pregnancy and childbirth. In a highly patriarchal society such as Afghanistan, women often do not have the freedom to leave their homes, even to seek medical care. As a result, one out of every eight women dies during delivery.

The scarcity of hospitals in Afghanistan further exacerbates the problem. Access to healthcare is limited, and even when it is available, the quality may be inadequate due to a lack of proper training and equipment. This situation contributes to the high rate of underweight newborns and puts both mothers and infants at risk.

The consequences of underweight newborns are far-reaching. Undernutrition can stunt physical and cognitive development, leading to long-term health issues and impaired learning abilities. It also perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as undernourished children are less likely to break free from the economic constraints of their families.

To address these issues, interventions are necessary to improve maternal nutrition and newborn care. This includes educating communities about good infant and young child feeding practices, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, and providing complementary feeding for infants. Additionally, efforts should be made to increase access to healthcare services and improve the quality of medical care for pregnant women and newborns.

Furthermore, breaking the cycle of malnutrition requires empowering women and addressing the underlying social and economic inequalities that contribute to food insecurity. This may involve initiatives to enhance women's literacy, create employment opportunities, and promote gender equality.

By implementing comprehensive strategies that address healthcare, nutrition, and social determinants of health, it is possible to improve the health and well-being of newborns in Afghanistan, reducing the proportion of underweight infants and giving them a healthier start in life.

60% of Afghan children are sent to school

Afghanistan has suffered four decades of conflict and poverty, and the future of its children looks bleak. UNICEF has identified Afghanistan as the "worst place to be born in the world", with children facing extreme poverty and violence on a daily basis.

The country's education system has been devastated by over thirty years of conflict. In the poorest and most remote areas, enrolment levels vary, and girls are still denied equal access. An estimated 3.7 million children are out of school in Afghanistan, and 60% of them are girls.

Girls' education in Afghanistan has been a rallying cry for foreign intervention, and a signature achievement heralded by Washington. Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, which had prohibited all girls from attending school, there have been increases in literacy and school attendance rates. However, the situation is once again worsening, with the Taliban's growing power threatening to reintroduce its notorious system of gender segregation.

In Taliban-controlled parts of western Afghanistan, female teachers and students report that the group has already cut access to school for thousands of girls, especially teenagers. Girls are dissuaded from attending school, and school buildings are being damaged or used as bastions in fighting. In some areas, schools have closed down after receiving written threats from the Taliban.

In the areas where schools are still functioning, there are numerous challenges. Nearly half of Afghanistan's 18,000 schools lack proper buildings, and students often lack access to safe drinking water or sanitary restrooms. In some cases, students are studying in open areas without proper tents or other infrastructure. The quality of education is also low, with only 48% of teachers having the minimum academic qualifications.

Despite these challenges, some progress has been made. The number of children enrolled in schools increased from 3.8 million in 2003 to 6.3 million in 2017. UNICEF is also working to increase access to education for vulnerable children, particularly girls, and to improve the quality of education.

However, the overall situation for Afghan children remains dire, with millions facing hunger, disease, and a lack of access to basic services. The future of Afghanistan's children hangs in the balance, with education and other essential services at risk of collapse.

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