The future of Afghanistan-children are on the brink of survival

As the Taliban rose up to power soon after the withdrawal of all US troops, Afghanistan has been facing one of the biggest humanitarian crisis the world has ever encountered. Taliban invaded Kabul, President Ghani fled the country, the government collapsed. The innocent civilians got caught in the middle of an intense war between the Afghan Army and the Taliban, leading to thousands of casualties. Taliban has now taken over the entire Afghanistan and is guilty of several human rights violations and abuses. *

Taliban is an Islamic militant organisation with extremist ideologies by which, over the years, it has strictly enforced Sharia Islamic laws on Afghanistan without any regards to the civilians and their human rights. Sharia forms the legal system and the religious concept of Islam. So in order to assert such harsh and radical beliefs on the people, Taliban has gone as far as committing assault, harassment and even execution.

The people of Afghanistan have become victims of such an inhumane torture. This type of atrocious treatment would especially affect the children of Afghanistan, as they face abuse and have their youth snatched away from them in the cruellest way ever.

DENIAL TO EDUCATION, DENIAL TO BASIC RIGHTS, DENIAL TO DEVELOPMENT

Taliban officials have stated that co-education is banned as it “goes against the laws of Islam”. Girls would be able to study as long as they are in segregated classrooms and follow a proper dress code with a hijab and full face coverings, as well as other extreme restrictions.  Male teachers are prohibited to teach female students. In the latest announcement regarding the re-opening of schools, boys could now continue to attend secondary school. However, there was no mention of girls in the announcement as Taliban has banned girls from secondary education. This action taken by the Taliban contradicts their previous statements about women being able to study for degrees. If girls are not provided with secondary education, their previous indications of their “liberal” ideologies are meaningless.

Higher Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani has disclosed that educational activities would take place in accordance with the Sharia Law. That means the Afghan education system would now be mended around the Taliban beliefs and ideologies. This arises many questions- does that mean that the students, being confined to such fanatic ideals, will grow up to follow the steps of Taliban? Will ill-treatment become the new norm for them?

INNOCENTS CAUGHT BETWEEN INTENSE VIOLENCE FORCED TO FLEE

The violence between the Taliban and the Afghan Army had caused great collateral damage. 32 percent of the total casualties were children- at least 27 were killed and 136 got injured under the span of just three days.

Families were forced to flee their homes and look for places with safety, security as well as basic means of survival. More than half a million Afghan civilians have been internally displaced this year. Afghanistan is experiencing a huge socio-economic collapse. UNICEF has estimated that nearly 10 million children of Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian aid, as they are being deprived of basic healthcare, hygiene and food security. There is a possibility that if no urgent action is taken against this rising issue, one million Afghan children under the age of five will be malnourished by the end of 2021. Many of them can die from severe diseases, poverty and even abuse and exploitation.

CHILDREN HANDED BOMBS, RECRUITED IN TERROR ACTIVITIES

The Taliban, in its previous regime, had used its despotic power to recruit children in terror groups and armies. The ages of these children range from teenage to even just 6 years. They are often brainwashed into joining such terror groups and used as suicide bombers. Approximately 33,000 children have been killed or maimed over the past 20 years. Many Afghans fear that the same would happen in the present rule of Taliban and have their children stand at army frontlines.

EARLY MARRIAGE-A BRIGHT FUTURE GETS SNATCHED AWAY FROM GIRLS

Under USA’s watch, there is no doubt that the women and girls of Afghanistan had the liberty to enjoy their freedom and rights that were missing during Taliban’s old regime. By 2020, 21 percent of all Afghan civil servants were women. 16 percent of them worked in senior management, while there had been none in the Taliban regime. Women made about 27 percent of Afghan MPs. Afghan women had various job opportunities and barely any restrictions regarding their rights. They could become soldiers and cops, surgeons, teachers, scientists, judges and prosecutors. The future of girls also felt secure at the time. But now after USA’s withdrawal of troops, it seems that they have been ruthlessly left behind to suffer again after two decades of peace.

Though the Taliban members have denied the accusations of forcing child marriage and calling them “baseless” and “propaganda”, many women activists have reported cases of their heinous acts. These accusations include Taliban members breaking into homes, exploiting the families and the daughters and forcing young girls into marriage. The fate of the girls in Afghanistan is in grave danger.

MENTAL HEALTH OF AFGHAN CHILDREN PREDICTED TO BE IN GRAVE DANGER

Many studies state that children raised in conflict ridden areas usually show greater symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and various other mental health issues compared to children raised in safer countries. Many Afghan children are growing up in a state of chaos and increasing poverty, which is clearly not the right environment for any child to grow up in. One in two people living in Afghanistan suffer from psychological distress. 11.5% of the children have shown high levels of mental health issues. Now with the Taliban regime, these stats are predicted to show worse in the future with increasing implementation of gender inequality, lack of basic needs for survival, an unreal amount of violence and no safe environment for healthy mental growth. Afghan children are in grave need of mental health support.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI-“YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN”

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani child’s rights activist who fought for her rights to education and stood up against the Taliban’s ideologies. At the age of 15, she was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban. She not only survived the attacked, but also got a huge global platform where her voice was heard.

Nine years later, now Malala Yousafzai stands in solidarity with the girls of Afghanistan and voices her concern. She was shook by the fact that women and girls had completely disappeared from the public, social and political life. Girls weren’t even mentioned in the announcements on school re-opening. Yet, Malala still has hope for the girls in Afghanistan. She expressed that she witnesses various women around the world challenging inequality and protesting, and this gives her hope that the situation would change for the better. She has urged those willing to make a difference to keep on fighting for justice and equality, for they can make a difference.

Through her non-profit, the Malala Fund, Yousafzai has invested almost $2 million in Afghanistan for the education of girls.

TAKEAWAYS

The citizens of Afghanistan are in great need of humanitarian assistance. Studies show that about 97% of Afghans could be affected by poverty by mid 2022. Unemployment rates have stricken up like never before. People are becoming homeless and hundreds of displaced Afghans are desperately seeking food and shelter in order to survive. If no action is taken by the International organisations and those nations in power, a dark future for Afghanistan is inevitable.

• To help the rehabilitation of many internally displaced Afghans, resettlement and housing programs should be implemented by the government, with support of the United Nations and powerful neighbouring countries. This could drastically improve the lives of many Afghans physically and mentally.
• United Nations has acknowledged the violation of human rights by the Taliban as they restricted girls from attending secondary schools. UN has urged the Taliban to lift this restriction and fulfil their promises. It is now stated that the Taliban will let girls attend secondary schools ‘soon’. Though it sounds vague, hope remains that the Taliban will be affirmative to their commitments to provide all girls with education as soon as possible.

REACH OUT A HELPING HAND

Donations to the UNICEF, UNHRC and Malala Funds will make a change to improve the lives of Afghan children. Speak out against the injustice that is taking place in Afghanistan. Every word matters to make a difference in the reality of millions of Afghans.