The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has documented reports from western Afghanistan that girls are being traded for bags of flour in Herat and Farah provinces. Some girls, according to the IFRC, are as young as ten-years old. The IFRC assessment mission has recently returned from western Afghanistan where they witnessed widespread poverty and hunger. According to one team member, even he was offered a bride in exchange for wheat flour. Children were also seen eating leaves from trees and digging up roots to have something to eat. Even though the weather was freezing, team members saw children without shoes and with very little clothing.
The IFRC findings highlight the need for more aid, especially in more remote areas of Afghanistan. IFRC is now planning to support projects to increase agricultural production. Millions of Afghans, however, are currently without adequate food and healthcare services. Find out how you can help by joining the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Campaign to Help Afghan Women and Girls.
