Recent floods and heavy rainfall in Badghis Province have caused extensive damage to farmland, orchards, and people’s property. A number of farmers say these events have not only destroyed the results of a year’s hard work but have also left the livelihoods and primary sources of income of many families in crisis.
In Mazar-i-Sharif, a young girl with a physical disability in her legs has established an educational center that provides free training in tailoring, literacy, and cooking for dozens of girls. This initiative has become an opportunity for many of the center’s students to learn skills and achieve financial independence.
In recent years, agricultural land in Kunduz has come under increasing pressure from multiple environmental challenges. Water resources have declined, surrounding forests have been destroyed, pasturelands have been overused, and climate change has made the province’s soil more vulnerable than ever before.
Meanwhile, women interviewed for this report say they were forced into marriage without their consent based on decisions made by their families. According to them, these marriages have resulted in psychological trauma, dissatisfaction, and emotional difficulties.
Salam Watandar’s interviews with 25 male students in grades 10 to 12 across five provinces of Afghanistan show that current teaching methods have not effectively met their learning needs. 18 of the interviewed students complained about the shortage of qualified teachers, while 11 reported a simultaneous shortage of modern educational tools and books.
Stretch marks, medically known as ‘striae’, are lines that develop on the skin as a result of excessive stretching. They commonly appear during pregnancy, puberty, or periods of rapid weight change. For many women, these marks become a source of concern about their physical appearance.
Findings by Salam Watandar, based on data from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, international organizations, and interviews with medical specialists, indicate that cesarean deliveries are on the rise in Afghanistan.
Kafa’ah (compatibility), also known as kufu (match) in marriage, is an important juristic and legal concept in Islam. It refers to the suitability and compatibility of a man and a woman in terms of features such as religion, moral character, conduct, culture, and economics. According to legal experts, juristic principles, statutory laws, and international law all emphasize equality and compatibility between spouses in marriage.
Khanum Gul, a resident of Sarmata village in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz, has been engaged in livestock farming for more than 20 years. Five years ago, she also started orchard farming. Her days are spent caring for her cows and goats, tending to her orchard, and working on her farmland—tasks that, despite the fatigue and difficulties they bring, have become an inseparable part of her life.
In a narrow street in Herat, the sound of sewing machines and the smell of leather fill a small but vibrant workshop, where Kamela Mirzaei—a girl whose life took an unexpected turn and who was denied the opportunity to continue her education—now works in a shoemaking workshop. She says the workshop has been operating officially for the past four years and is run with the help of her family members.
The unprecedented trend of migrant returns—particularly from Iran and Pakistan—amid regional tensions and Afghanistan’s economic hardships is pushing the country toward a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warns that Afghanistan cannot, on its own, withstand the simultaneous pressures of large-scale return migration, poverty, and climate change.
Consecutive droughts in Al-Jihad District of Sar-e Pol Province have created serious challenges for livestock owners. Shortages of fodder, dried grazing lands, and water shortages have caused many families to lose part of their livestock or sell their animals to sustain their livelihoods. However, the recent rainfall over the past month has renewed hope among livestock owners across the district.
