Abdul Rahman Habibzui
KABUL: Officials at the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) termed Afghanistan as the worst place for children, calling on the world to provide urgent assistance to Afghan children.
“The world cannot and should not avert its eyes and forget to help those who are most in need and those who have paid the highest price amid this instability,” said Salam Al-Janabi, Communication Specialist at UNICEF.
Children in Afghanistan are scrambling with various types of challenges. They are forced to engage in hazardous work, bearing psychological and mental pressure, and in some cases even sexually abused.
Thousands of children spread on the streets of major capital cities to make an end meet to their families due to severe poverty affected millions of Afghans. A 13 years old shoe polisher in Kabul city, Zahra said she is obliged to work to bring food for the family.
“I have to work. There is no one to pay our expenses in our family. I pay the expenses for my study and buy bread for our home,” Zahra said.
Zahra is one of the thousands of children who are the breadwinners of the families. With the collapse of the former government- which was engulfed with severe corruption and corrupted officials- the humanitarian aids to Afghanistan have seen a significant reduction.
“Children are in a really critical condition in Afghanistan, and it is becoming worse. The Taliban and the international community are responsible for the situation,” said Maryam Maarof Arwin, Children Rights Activist.