Families in Afghanistan are selling their children due to economic hardship.
In the Gur province of Afghanistan, the ongoing economic decline and worsening hunger are forcing local residents to make desperate decisions. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Information from influential publications indicates that the social situation in the country has become alarming. Today, nearly five million people in Afghanistan live under the threat of starvation.
The sharp rise in unemployment and the reduction in international humanitarian aid are exacerbating the crisis. In rural areas, the majority of men are migrating to urban centers in search of work to support their families, but most fail to secure a stable source of income.
In this dire situation, some families are resorting to measures contrary to human will—such as marrying off young children early or selling them—in order to survive. Statements from local community representatives confirm the widespread scale of this tragedy.
For example, a father of three daughters aged six said he might be forced to marry off one of his children to save the family from hunger. He emphasized that, although such a decision is agonizing for any father, he sees no other option.
In another heartbreaking case, a father suffering from a severe illness was compelled to sell his five-year-old daughter to a relative to cover medical expenses. Had the family had financial means, such a desperate act would not have been considered.
According to the agreement, the girl will be married to one of her young relatives’ sons upon reaching a certain age. In Afghanistan, marrying off girls before they reach adulthood has long been a social problem.
Experts describe this situation as a gross violation of children’s rights and urge the international community to pay attention to this humanitarian catastrophe. They warn that economic hardships are jeopardizing the future of an entire generation, posing a serious threat to the country’s tomorrow.
