KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The World Food Programme (WFP) says that some families in Afghanistan, struggling with extreme poverty worsened by prolonged drought, are marrying off their young daughters to provide for the rest of the family.
The UN agency shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring the “heart-wrenching story” of a father who had to marry off his five-year-old daughter to ensure the survival of his other children.
“I was forced to marry off my five-year-old daughter. We had nothing to feed our children. I borrowed 60 kilograms of wheat seed, hoping to start over, but my crop failed due to the drought,” said Alauddin, an Afghan father featured in the WFP’s video.
“I have nothing left to feed my family. I don’t know what to do. I have nothing to do but put my trust in God,” he added.
WFP noted that the drought in Afghanistan’s climate crisis-affected areas left families like Alauddin’s with no choice but to marry off their children to save the rest.
“Can you imagine seeing someone take away your child?” questioned the WFP.
This development comes as the United Nations continues to report high levels of poverty and need in Afghanistan. According to UN reports, nearly 24 million people in the country currently require humanitarian assistance, with over 12 million facing severe hunger.
Malnutrition has reached alarming levels. In September, UNICEF reported that over 343,000 Afghan children had been admitted for acute malnutrition treatment since January 2024. In Nangarhar alone, at least 700 children have died from malnutrition and seasonal diseases in the past six months, with the true death toll likely higher due to unreported cases in remote areas.
The country has been struggling with numerous natural disasters, including earthquakes, heavy rains, flooding, and landslides in recent times. These events, along with their human toll, have resulted in significant financial losses for an already impoverished population.
Before the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, Afghanistan was heavily dependent on foreign aid. Since then, international funding has sharply declined, with many countries cutting or halting aid due to concerns over the Taliban’s human rights violations, ties to terrorism, and other factors.
Humanitarian agencies are facing one of the most severe funding shortfalls in recent years. According to the UN, its $3.07 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan remains heavily underfunded, with only 30% of the required funds secured so far.
