[Report file] 'Child trafficking and marriage' in Afghanistan... Concerns about worsening winter food shortages

A 9-year-old girl who was sold as a bride…

Afghanistan's child trafficking and child trafficking surge due to food shortage

A young girl sitting next to her father with a grim expression. In a video released by CNN earlier this month, the girl caught the attention of media around the world. This is Parwana Malik, a 9-year-old girl who lived in an Afghan settlement and was sold as a bride to a 55-year-old man on the 24th of last month. The girl's original dream of becoming a teacher was shattered when she was drawn into the hands of a stranger.

The amount the girl's father got from selling his daughter was about 2.6 million won in our money, enough for the family to survive for two or three months. As the economic situation worsened due to the re-takeover of the Taliban on August 15, the girl's father lost her job and the remaining wealth ran out, so she began selling her children to support herself and the rest of her family. "I sold my 12-year-old Malik's sister a few months ago," said the girl's father in an interview with CNN.

In Afghanistan, where marriage for children under the age of 15 is illegal, the increase in child trafficking is due to the fact that the national economy is in fact collapsing and the number of displaced people living in the displaced settlements is exacerbating food shortages. CNN also reported in a report on the 2nd that after the re-takeover of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the number of people selling young daughters to wealthy elderly people in Afghanistan is soaring.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, some 700,000 Afghans this year have been displaced by the civil war and are living in displaced settlements. According to a UN report, more than half of Afghanistan's population is currently suffering from food shortages. Experts are particularly concerned that as the food shortage worsens as winter approaches, the vicious cycle of child trafficking and marriage is likely to repeat itself.

In a written interview with SBS yesterday (9th), Indrika Ratwatte, director of the UNHCR's Asia-Pacific region, who oversees humanitarian aid in the Asia-Pacific region, including Afghanistan, said, "Winter is the life and death of internally displaced people in Afghanistan. "It's a threatening season," he said. "Even basic support such as food and blankets is not enough." “It is estimated that there are millions of people displaced in Afghanistan, but only 40% of the amount needed has been raised so far,” he said. It’s time to step in,” he said. The following is the full text of our written interview with Director Indrika Ratwate.

※ Director Indrika Ratwatte, a Sri Lankan national, has been appointed as the director in charge of the Asia-Pacific region, including Central and Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan, since September 2017.

After the Taliban took power again in Afghanistan in August, he visited Afghanistan and took the lead in providing humanitarian aid to internally displaced people.

Director Indrika Ratwate began working at the UN as a refugee affairs officer for the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency in 1992. During his tenure as deputy director for Asia Pacific from 2010 to 2014, he developed a 'multi-year solution strategy' for Afghan refugees. It has also led the adoption of the initiative.

“Displaced people in Afghanistan, estimated at millions… need humanitarian assistance”

A. Most of the displacement in Afghanistan this year actually occurred before the Taliban took power again in August.

Although violence is sporadic and persistent, UNHCR is confirming that the security situation in Afghanistan is stabilizing.

This year alone, nearly 700,000 Afghans have lost their homes in Afghanistan.

80% of them are women and children.

In recent weeks, UNHCR has seen several families return home ahead of winter.

But there are still millions of displaced people across Afghanistan in need of help.

At this point, we need urgent support for internally displaced people.

However, the worsening humanitarian crisis could lead to more displaced people.

"Afghans have the will to rebuild their lives... Humanitarian aid should be provided regardless of whether the Taliban authorities recognize it"

A. I have worked in Afghanistan and have visited Afghanistan dozens of times while working for UNHCR.

What breaks my heart every time I visit Afghanistan is that Afghans are too often victims of conflict and political dynamics.

Last August, in Kabul, I watched UNHCR's important humanitarian mission: housing assistance, cash assistance, and winter supplies to displaced Afghan people.

Also, there were steady Afghans returning home (from refugee camps).

Afghans have the will to rebuild their lives.

However, humanitarian aid is insufficient now, as we are witnessing severe economic deterioration.

We need more support, and we can't just wait for governments around the world to recognize or disapprove of the Taliban.

We must act now.

"Winter, the season that threatens the life and death of refugees... Exposure to food shortage and hypothermia risk"

A. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Afghan displaced people today is that of the survivors. It's like hearing desperate stories of parents making decisions they never want to make, like forcing their underage daughter to marry. The upcoming winter for those living in makeshift shelters in IDP camps isn't just a harsh season. Winter is a season that threatens their lives. They need basic items such as food, blankets and insulation. The risk of hypothermia is very high and, as the reporter said, half of the Afghans are exposed to extreme food shortages. UNHCR has raised the level of its response. We have established a logistics hub in the Termez region of Uzbekistan and recently delivered 80 tons of essential support items via flight. But we all need to do more. And for this, more financial support from the international community is needed.

A. In these emergencies, children are always the most vulnerable.

Children have inherent vulnerabilities.

In addition, most of the Afghans currently displaced are children.

They are most at risk for health problems such as extreme malnutrition and hypothermia.

However, displacement also has a major impact on children's education.

In places where people can safely return to their homes, UNHCR is helping families return.

Since last September, about 166,000 Afghan internally displaced persons have returned, and children have been greatly helped.

We also advocate inclusive education methods, enabling girls to get an education and more schools to be established.

"UNHCR female employees are permitted to work only in certain fields in 31 out of 34 Afghanistan"

A. UNHCR is concerned about the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and we have expressed this directly to the Afghan Provisional Government. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has also earlier addressed the concerns the United Nations has in this regard. However, UNHCR has a specific mission for those in need of protection and those who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of conflict. It is difficult to know at this time how the current situation will change. But as of today, many women are unable to go to work. Educated women, judges are threatened. Keeping girls from going to school or making basic life choices about their future has the potential to be persecution. They may be forced to leave Afghanistan, an issue that should be taken seriously.

UNHCR is also advocating for women to return to work in all sectors of society, including life-saving humanitarian workers across Afghanistan.

UNHCR's women employees play a very important role in our work and must be able to fulfill their duties fully.

As of today, UNHCR's female employees have been allowed to work in certain fields in most parts of Afghanistan.

Mostly in areas such as health, education, and humanitarian assessment.

Women are currently unable to work in three of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

Circumstances vary from region to region and region to district.

UNHCR continues to ensure that humanitarian responses reach women's will and provide assistance to those who need it most.

"Continue urging to open borders to neighboring countries that have locked their doors"

A. The situation in the border region of Afghanistan is very complex.

Overall, these borders are only open to people with visas and passports.

The vast majority of Afghans are not included here.

UNHCR continues to urge Afghanistan's neighbors to keep their borders open so people can find safety.

We should also keep in mind that those who are forced to leave their homes to escape persecution often do not have the necessary documents or travel permits with them.

"The number of Afghan refugees who fled to neighboring countries this year is estimated at 50,000 so far"

A. While we have witnessed large-scale displacement within Afghanistan, we have not seen a large influx of refugees fleeing to neighboring countries or to more distant countries.

So far this year, some 50,000 Afghan refugees have fled to Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

As refugees and asylum-seekers continue to cross borders, we must remember that most of the world's refugees are staying as close as possible to their country of origin.

For this reason, Afghanistan's neighbors, Iran and Pakistan, have hosted 75% (3/4) of Afghan refugees over the past 40 years.

Therefore, reflecting this reality, all preparations and response plans should be made in the face of the arrival of new refugees in neighboring countries of Afghanistan, which will require further support.

"Afghanistan cuts off transport lines for aircraft... Support goods through land and air transport in neighboring countries"

A. A complex humanitarian situation, such as the emergency in Afghanistan, creates some difficulties in areas such as aid transport. The challenges include the scale of response required, disruption of traditional supply routes, and changes in local administrative management. Prior to the outbreak of a crisis, UNHCR has prepared an emergency supply chain network to ensure the continuous delivery of aid in a variety of situations, and is prepared for any situation.

Of course, there were difficulties with this plan. Blocking land borders, including blocking existing transport lines to Afghanistan, was a challenge. We first deployed aid supplies to Pakistan and Uzbekistan, and delivered them through their respective borders in close cooperation with the authorities of both countries. In addition, several air shipments have made it possible to deliver winter-ready supplies directly to Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif to displaced people in need of assistance ahead of the winter. UNHCR is proud of the UNHCR team that has played a major role in continuing to provide support to Afghans, and sincere thanks to donors and partners who have helped make this important response possible. I would like to thank you for

"Only about 40% of the funds needed to support Afghanistan are raised...More support is urgently needed"

A. UNHCR and its partners have increased their support to support more than 500,000 Afghans this year.

The support includes shelter, solar panels for renewable energy, and cash aid, which has allowed people to buy the things they need most, such as shoes for their children or food for the winter.

UNHCR was present throughout the crisis.

And as long as we have access to Afghans and the safety of UNHCR and its partners' staff is ensured, we will continue to support Afghans by staying in Afghanistan.

But we need more support, including financial support.

As of now, only about 40% of the funds needed for the situation in Afghanistan have been raised.

"Korea, donated about 117.6 billion won over the past 4 years…thank you deeply"

A. This year, about 30 governments and intergovernmental donors, as well as dozens of private sector donors, UN funds and charities made donations to UNHCR's response to Afghanistan. In addition, we have supported UNHCR's response efforts around the world, including in Afghanistan, through unearmarked contributions that other national governments and individual donors can use where they are most needed.

The Republic of Korea has donated approximately $100,000,000 (USD/about KRW 117.6 billion) to UNHCR's response efforts over the past four years. Through this fund, UNHCR has been able to literally save lives. For this, UNHCR would like to express its deepest gratitude to the government and people of the Republic of Korea. UNHCR continues to call on all countries to do their best to support this urgent humanitarian response.

A. Anti-refugee sentiment and xenophobia unfortunately exist in many other countries and are not unique to one country.

UNHCR understands that the world's fear of refugees stems from a misunderstanding.

For example, in the current crisis in Afghanistan, 90% of Afghan displaced people are living in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and other parts of Southwest Asia.

Another point I would like to point out is that the host community sees refugee acceptance positively over time.

UNHCR's assistance is provided through a community-based approach with facilities such as schools and hospitals to assist refugees, which are also available to the people of the community.

This allowed people to gradually get to know their neighbors, refugees, and to understand why they were forced to leave their homes.

Refugees with enough support can give something back to a new community with what they have, making it more prosperous.

I think this is also the case in Korea.

Advanced inclusion for refugees can only grow on genuine understanding.

(Photo=CNN, provided by UNHCR)