40 Percent of Afghan Children Struggle to Meet Basic Needs Amid Growing Poverty

40 Percent of Afghan Children Struggle to Meet Basic Needs Amid Growing Poverty

VoM News Desk | December 28, 2023 | 02:03 PM IST | Asia, World | Follow on Google News

40 Percent of Afghan Children Struggle to Meet Basic Needs Amid Growing Poverty/Representative image

40 Percent of Afghan Children Struggle to Meet Basic Needs Amid Growing Poverty

A recent study by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has highlighted a distressing situation for children in Afghanistan, revealing that 40% of them are unable to fulfill their essential needs.

The report emphasizes that one-third of Afghan youths are compelled into labor, forced by their families due to escalating poverty under the Taliban’s rule.

The IRC study underscores the failure of humanitarian groups to address even the fundamental requirements of Afghan children. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) previously reported that Afghan children are compelled to engage in hazardous labor conditions for survival.

Shockingly, as per a 2022 report, around 131,400 children, some as young as five, have been separated from their families, facing violence and abuse in northern Afghanistan.

The UN notes that prolonged conflicts, displacement, poverty, food scarcity, lack of livelihood opportunities, and inadequate investment have disrupted children’s access to essential services in Afghanistan.

The situation has resulted in increased recruitment, exploitation, and sexual violence against them.

While the Taliban administration has disputed the UN’s findings, asserting its commitment to children’s rights, concerns persist as poverty exacerbates, leading to a surge in the number of children working on the streets.

Since the Taliban’s ascendancy to power in 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed a deteriorating situation, especially for children, whose fundamental rights have been compromised amidst stringent regulations imposed by the de facto authorities.

The international community’s sanctions against the Taliban, coupled with financial, humanitarian, and human rights crises, have deeply affected the country.

Moreover, the Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women and girls have led to severe constraints on their rights and freedoms.

Girls face restrictions in education beyond the sixth grade, including university, while women are barred from most professions and public spaces, perpetuating a dire situation for Afghan women and girls.

VoM News Desk

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