Father in Afghanistan forced to sell his daughter to buy water
A man named Abdul Rashid Azimi, living in the Gur province of Afghanistan, stated that he is being forced to sell his seven-year-old daughter to save his family from starvation. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
International publications are spreading news about this. Currently, nearly five million people in Afghanistan are living under the threat of famine, and the Gur province is considered one of the regions most affected by the economic crisis.
Abdul Rashid has twin daughters named Roqiya and Rohila. He noted that the severe financial situation in the family and accumulated debts have forced him to consider selling one of his daughters.
The father expressed his readiness to sell his children as domestic servants or on the condition of marriage in the future. According to him, the funds obtained from selling one daughter would allow him to provide food for his remaining children for at least four years.
The mother, Kaykhan, said that they cannot even afford to drink tea in the house, and they are surviving only on bread and hot water. Since boys are seen as the future providers of the family in the country, it is specifically girls who are sacrificed during times of economic hardship.
Restrictions on women's education and employment are further deepening this problem. Additionally, the tradition of the bride price paid to the girl's family during marriage is also contributing to such tragic sales.
Although Abdul Rashid's teenage sons try to help the family by polishing shoes and collecting waste in the city, this income is not enough to cover their needs. A similar situation was observed in the household of another Afghan, Said Ahmad.
He was forced to sell his five-year-old daughter, Shayqan, to a relative to save her from a serious illness. The more than three thousand dollars required to treat the liver tumor and other diseases diagnosed in the little girl were obtained in exchange for her sale.
According to the agreement, the little girl must go to that relative's house to marry their son after five years. According to United Nations data, the volume of international humanitarian aid provided to Afghanistan is sharply decreasing.
This is further worsening the social and economic situation in the country, leading to an increase in tragic cases such as the sale of underage girls and early marriage. Parents state that they are left with no other choice to save their children's lives.
