Save The Children warns of the situation of Afghan girls after one year of Taliban rule

The NGO Save The Children has warned that one year after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, a large proportion of Afghan girls show signs of depression or are frustrated at not being able to attend school.

This was noted by the organization in the ‘Breaking Point’ report, in which it detailed that 97 percent of families struggle to provide enough food for their children, as well as girls eating less than boys.

“Almost 80 percent of children say they have gone to bed hungry in the last 30 days, although it is girls who suffer the most from this situation as they are almost twice as likely as boys to go to bed without having had enough to eat,” Save The Children said in a statement.

According to the NGO, the lack of food caused by food shortages in the country has “devastating” consequences for the health of children, while threatening their future.

Nine out of ten girls in Afghanistan say their meals have been reduced in the last year and they are worried that they are losing weight and have no energy to study, play or work.

The crisis is also affecting girls’ mental and psychosocial well-being. According to several interviews conducted by Save The Children with adult caregivers, 26 percent of girls show signs of depression compared to 16 percent of boys. In addition, 27 percent of girls have signs of anxiety. Boys, 18 percent.

“The girls interviewed by Save the Children tell of having trouble sleeping at night because they are worried and have nightmares. They also say they have been excluded from many of the activities that used to make them happy, such as spending time with family and friends and going to parks and stores,” the NGO said.

Following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, thousands of high school girls were ordered to stay at home, reversing years of progress for gender equality, a source of disappointment and anger among girls, who feel hopeless about their future.

In this regard, more than 45 percent of girls regret that they do not attend school, compared to 20 percent of boys. They cite economic challenges, the Taliban’s ban on girls attending secondary school, and community attitudes as “the main barriers” preventing them from accessing education.

Following the withdrawal of international forces last year, the Taliban seized power on August 15. Billions of dollars in international aid were withdrawn, Afghanistan’s foreign currency reserves were frozen, and the banking system collapsed. The subsequent economic crisis and the country’s worst drought in 30 years have plunged households into poverty.

Children interviewed by Save the Children tell how the economic situation, which is leaving households without enough money to eat and without basic items, is driving an increase in child marriages in their communities, and that this is affecting girls more than boys.

Save the Children’s Afghanistan country director, Chris Nyamandi, director, has explained the gravity of the current situation, “Life is terrible for children here, a year after the Taliban took over, they go to bed hungry night after night. They are exhausted and wasting away, unable to play and study as they used to. They spend their days toiling in brick factories, collecting garbage and cleaning houses instead of going to school.”

Save the Children has argued that the solution cannot be found in Afghanistan alone, but that “the involvement of the international community is essential.” The organization warns that if “immediate” humanitarian funds are not provided and a way is not found to revive the banking system and support the economy, children will lose their childhood and even die.