Salam Watandar has interviewed 25 women and girls aged 17 to 35 in different provinces and found that, for some of them, their families have become their main source of support and hope for the future.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on countries to ratify and implement the Kigali Amendment as the world marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, urging faster action to promote sustainable cooling and protect people and the planet.
Water shortages caused by drought and climate change have affected agriculture and livestock farming in several districts of Ghazni in recent years. A number of farmers and orchard owners in Ghazni city and the districts of Khwaja Omari, Malistan, Deh Yak, Qarabagh and Jaghatu say groundwater levels have fallen significantly in recent years, although the extent of the decline varies from area to area.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Afghanistan says it has distributed 50,000 hot meal packages to returnees to the country.
While sport is one of the most effective ways to promote the physical and mental development of youth, the lack of proper places for sports in Kapisa has prevented many youth from continuing their sporting activities.
In the mountainous areas of Daikundi, Afghanistan, almond blossoms are being damaged by sudden spring frosts, while consecutive droughts are reducing harvests. For families who depend on almonds for their livelihoods, this is more than the loss of a crop. It means smaller meals and growing financial pressure, forcing some families to sell their remaining livestock, borrow money to buy food from local shops, and cut back on meals.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that cluster munitions kill and injure civilians indiscriminately.
Interviews with 33 youth who began higher education four to 14 years later than the usual age show that they resumed their studies when circumstances allowed. According to those interviewed, economic problems were the main reason they could not enter university on time.
The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Afghanistan have launched a €5 million initiative to help Afghan farmers and agribusinesses.
24 women in nine provinces of Afghanistan say that entering the job market has improved their families’ financial situations and reduced their dependence on their families. However, low incomes, a lack of suitable markets, limited experience, and a lack of facilities remain the main challenges on their path to achieving financial independence.
Khalid Sarhadi, spokesperson for the Ghazni Police Command, says a woman has died in the province after receiving an improperly administered injection.
“Toyana” is a longstanding custom practiced in some parts of Afghanistan. It is a payment separate from the dower (mahr), in which an amount of money is determined or paid by the groom’s family to the bride’s family. Depending on customs and the circumstances of the families, this tradition can place a significant financial burden on the groom’s family and make the beginning of married life more difficult for young couples.
