The Social State of Afghanistan

  The social situation in Afghanistan, as well as the economic situation, especially in areas controlled by the Taliban (link), has been practially turned
over to the international community.


Food Shortages


Food shortages have been a major problem.  Authorities in Pakistan imposed a ban on the export of wheat flour to Afghanistan, causing shortages
in the eastern, southern, and central regions Afghanistan.  Something that didn't help the situaion was the inroduction of 140,000 people who had been forced
by the Taliban to leave the Shomali valley when fighting eruoted.  It has been reported that people were begging for bread rather than for money.  This
illustrates the desperattion that existed.  The most extreme example are those families that were resorting to giving their children away becausethey
couldn't affod to feed them.  It has also been reported that the Taliban were preventing water from being delivered to the inhabitants of norhtern Kabul.
  In July, there were reports that these inhabitants were forbidden by the Taliban to harvest their wheat.  This was punishment for their supposed
support of anti-Taliban forces.  The situation only grew worse in August when the Taliban poisoned wells, destroyed irrigation channel, and layed land mines.


Children

  The current conditions in Afghanistan take the the greatest toll on the children.  Malnutrituon has led to the births of premature babies with undersized brains-18% died
at infancy.  And of the children who survived infancy, 1/4 died before even reaching five years of age.  One of the highest infant mortality rates
existed north of Kabul, where there were 1,700 deaths for every 100,000 childern born.  Shortages of proper medical facilities also contributed to
the deaths of many children diarrhea and the measles, preventable diseases.  The majority of Afghan children suffer severe psychological trauma as a
result of growing up in an environment that denies them a poper childhood, or even a childhood at all.
 The amount of street children has increased from 28,000 in 1996, to almost 60,000 in 1997.  And although there are shelters  in two neighborhoods
of Kabul, they only provide servies until the age of 14 for boys, and until the age of 7 for girls.  They are given one meal, weekly medical check-ups, 
and health, as well as general education.  However, even those children who have the privilege of access to schooling, they are forced to leave
becuase they must help their families.  Children often beg, as well as collect scrap metal, a dangerous task because of the high numbers of landmines that
scatter the villages and countryside. As a result, many children are often maimed while collectnig.



Children and Conflict  further descriptions of the effects of warfare on children in Afghanistan



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