Category: ALL TOPICS

Mother-fetus blood incompatibility; infant deaths and lack of family awareness

Saniya, one of these women, said sadly,
“My first child looked healthy, but after a while, he died. Later, I found out that the reason was the incompatibility between my blood and my child’s blood. In later pregnancies, I had to stop breastfeeding and feed the baby with formula so that the baby’s condition would improve.”

Tafriq; women’s legal and religious right, but fraught with challenges in practice

Ziba Zuhal, a legal expert, says in this regard, “According to the Civil Code of Afghanistan, women can claim Tafriq (judicial separation) in the following cases: non-payment of alimony, causing harm, the husband’s infertility, and absence for more than three years. Under the Civil Code of Afghanistan and Islamic Sharia, the authority to pronounce divorce belongs to the man.”

Off-season farming in Laghman; a source of income and market stability

Laghman, one of the provinces that has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetable production, not only meets domestic demand but also exports its products to other provinces, including Kabul. Although vegetable production in the country decreases during winter, many farmers in this province use plastic-covered cultivation to bring vegetables to the market ahead of the season, which significantly helps stabilize prices.

Fasting during pregnancy and breastfeeding; a threat to mother and child health

Yasamin, 39 years old and in her eighth month of pregnancy, shares her experience of fasting without consulting a doctor. She says, “I am in the eighth month of my pregnancy and I am fasting. I haven’t visited a doctor so far, but I continue to fast regularly. During the day, I feel extremely hungry and thirsty—my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. Since I started fasting, I have noticed that the movements of my baby in the womb have decreased and are not as before.”

Efforts for self-sufficiency in chicken meat production in Balkh

Shafiqullah, a chicken seller in Mazar-i-Sharif, said, “The newly established farms, along with those built in the past, have a great impact on chicken meat prices. If we relied on Pakistan, one kilogram would cost over 300 Afghanis; now, the price in the city is 220 Afghanis.”

Tagab pomegranate growers hope for a fruitful season after snowfall

“Snow and rain help get rid of pests and microbes on the trees for up to five years. They also prevent diseases like blight, which otherwise require spraying. In the past, when snowfall was enough, these problems didn’t happen. God willing, this year’s snow will have the same effect. Pomegranate trees also tend to give better yields after snowfall.” he explained.

Israel expands military strikes on Lebanon

Israel expanded its military campaign on Monday, striking Hezbollah-linked positions in Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles and drones at Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Child marriage in Afghanistan

Aziza, a 17-year-old resident of Maimana city, the center of Faryab province, was forced to marry at the age of 14 because her younger brother suffered a birth-related neck injury and the family was unable to afford his treatment. Aziza’s marriage was seen as the only option to improve the family’s situation.

Greenhousing in Herat; struggling with loans and storms

“This year in Shaidaei, the winds were very strong, and a storm destroyed our greenhouses. I didn’t have the money to rebuild, so I had to sell them. I ran a greenhouse for six years, and now I’m unemployed. I sell wood to pay for household expenses; I can’t build a new greenhouse,” he says.