Afghanistan has been facing conflict for the past several decades, including devastating drought, a collapsing economy and the impact of international sanctions are causing irreparable damage to the children of Afghanistan.
I just recently went to Afghanistan. That was my short visit there, and what I saw gave me cause for grave concern.
The children are on the streets, begging for money, cleaning the cars without permission. The stores and Vegetable market of Afghanistan are empty, and no buyer is ready to purchase vegetables because they can not afford that.
In a hospital in Kandahar, bony babies lie motionless two to a bed, too weak to even cry amid a spike in cases of severe acute malnutrition. A 25-year-old mother of five told me that her family exists on a diet of bread and water. And things may get more worse.
According to our study on Afghanistan, more than 1 million children need treatment for severe acute malnutrition, and some 13 million children need humanitarian assistance, and diseases like measles and acute watery diarrhoea will continue to extend. Up to 97 per cent of all Afghan families could be living below the poverty line in a matter of months.
“This is no way to live. And children of Afghanistan cant be the hostage of politics. Decisions and Actions for them need to be taken today because that will decide whether they live or die, and ultimately and ultimately, whether the country survives or declines.
Even I spoke to many children who have dreams, but they can not fulfil those dreams if the government shut the schools like this only.
“UNICEF is on the ground, doing everything in our power to help children.” We train teachers, set up community-based classes, vaccinate children against preventable childhood diseases, improve access to water and sanitation services, and provide treatment for severe acute malnutrition.
We have paid cash incentives for teachers and health workers and provided supplies to public health facilities.
“I urge the de facto authorities to fulfil your all promises and give rights into concrete action and allow all girls to go to school and all women to go to work without any delays.”