RASC News Agency: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has recently unveiled a report spotlighting the perilous situation confronting children in Afghanistan. The report reveals that 40% of the country’s children are not having their needs met, with a staggering one-third engaged in laborious work. Despite the presence of aid agencies in Afghanistan, the IRC underscores that the minimum requirements for a significant portion of these children remain unfulfilled. This alarming predicament is attributed to the surge in poverty following the Taliban’s takeover, compelling many families to exploit their children for labor.
Parallel to the IRC’s findings, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has illuminated the plight of Afghanistani children. UNICEF highlights that these children are compelled to undertake hazardous and physically demanding tasks to secure their basic sustenance. Particularly dire in the northern regions of Afghanistan, approximately 131,400 children, some as young as five years old, have been separated from their families and subjected to violence and abuse. This distressing reality stems from prolonged conflicts, displacement, extreme poverty, food insecurity, limited livelihood opportunities, and insufficient investment in the country, severely impeding children’s access to essential services.
While these reports draw attention to the dire circumstances facing Afghanistani children, the Taliban administration has rejected the UN’s findings, emphasizing its commitment to upholding children’s rights in the country. Nevertheless, the surge in poverty has led to an increase in the number of children working on the streets of Afghanistan, prompting concerns from human rights organizations and child welfare advocates. The situation is further compounded by the report’s highlighting of disastrous conditions faced by children in the Gaza Strip and Sudan, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and support to address these pressing issues.
