Hunger Forces Families To Sell Daughters In Afghanistan: Reports
A deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has reportedly forced several impoverished families to “sell” their young daughters in exchange for money to buy food, pay debts and cover medical expenses, according to media reports.
As per reports, extreme poverty, rising hunger and the collapse of economic opportunities have pushed many Afghan families into desperate situations, especially in remote provinces where aid has sharply declined in recent years.
According to a BBC report from Afghanistan’s Ghor province, several fathers said they were left with “impossible choices” as they struggled to feed their families amid unemployment and growing debt.
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One father, identified as Abdul Rashid Azimi, reportedly said he was considering selling one of his seven-year-old twin daughters because he could no longer afford food for his family. Fighting back tears, he told reporters that poverty and unemployment had left him helpless.
“I’m willing to sell my daughters. I’m poor, in debt and helpless,” he reportedly said.
As per the report, Abdul Rashid said he returns home every day without enough money to buy bread for his children, adding that hunger and lack of work had pushed him into severe distress.
Another resident, Saeed Ahmad, reportedly said he was forced to arrange the future marriage of his five-year-old daughter, Shaiqa, to a relative in exchange for financial assistance after she developed serious medical complications, including appendicitis and a liver cyst.
Saeed accepted part of the money needed for the child’s surgery while delaying the remaining payment so that his daughter could stay with the family for a few more years before being taken away as a future bride.
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The report stated that many Afghan families previously survived with the help of international humanitarian aid, including food supplies such as flour, cooking oil and nutritional supplements. However, reductions in global aid funding and cuts in assistance from major donor countries have reportedly worsened the crisis.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is facing severe humanitarian challenges, with millions unable to meet even their basic daily needs. According to UN estimates, nearly 4.7 million people in the country are said to be on the verge of famine.
Reports also noted that daughters are often sold instead of sons because boys are traditionally viewed as future earners capable of supporting families financially.
In contrast, girls are frequently seen as a source of immediate financial relief through marriage arrangements in which the groom’s family provides money or gifts to the bride’s family.
The situation has reportedly worsened following restrictions imposed on women and girls under Taliban rule, including limits on education and employment opportunities.
Experts cited in reports said these restrictions have deepened gender inequality and contributed to a decline in international aid support.
Human rights groups and aid agencies have repeatedly raised concerns over the rise in child marriages and the worsening conditions faced by women and children in Afghanistan as hunger and poverty continue to spread across the country.
