Child Protection: Political conflicts in Afghanistan have eroded the physical and social fabric of Afghanistan and continue to impact the lives of children by hampering their access to school and basic services, exposing them to increased violence and abuses and jeopardizing their very survival (unicef.org)
Education in Afghanistan: The
people of Afghanistan have been living in a protracted state of conflict and
instability for three decades. In addition to uncertain security, the extreme
mountain terrain and harsh climate make it difficult to access education especially
for girls. Under the Taliban regime violence and intimidation were routinely
used to prevent girls and women from attending school and gaining the education
that is their right (Unicef.org)
Child Health in Afghanistan: Afghanistan has the second highest rate of under-five
mortality in the world, with thousands of children dying every year. Many of
these deaths are the result of vaccine preventable diseases, including polio
and measles, the lack of clean water and sanitation which directly impacts
nutrition and limited access to medical care. In addition to the high mortality
rate, Afghanistan also has the highest rates of stunting in the world. Stunting
is primarily caused by mothers’ poor nutrition during pregnancy and repeated episodes
of infectious diseases in a child’s early years. Children who suffer from
stunting lack the necessary nutrients for their bodies to develop properly,
meaning they will not grow to their full size, often ending up smaller and
facing greater risk of death during childhood or reduced productivity in
adulthood. Reduced food security of families due to destruction of crops during
natural disasters, combined with the burden of infectious diseases, is
increasing the rate of acute malnutrition in the country - which is now double
the rate of 2004 (Unicef.org)
Polio: Polio has devastating effects on infants and young children and can result in chronic health problems, paralysis, stunting and premature death.
As a result of intensive worldwide efforts to eradicate the disease, Afghanistan is now one of only four countries where the disease remains endemic, the others being Nigeria, India and Pakistan (Unicef.org)
Wash: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: Ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has impeded the development of infrastructure throughout the country, resulting in many communities not being able to develop quality water sources. The lack of clean water and poor sanitation result in exposure to water-borne illnesses, including diarrhea, claiming the lives of an estimated 85,000 children a year (Unicef .org)
I learned a lot about Afghanistan.
The issues that we have in the US are totally different than the issues elsewhere
in the world. Here, we worry about extracurricular activities, about teaching
the right curriculum to our students, and about educating the whole child. In
Afghanistan for example, I noticed that professionals have different types of
issues to worry about. Most children didn’t even have the basic nutrition or
clean water in order to survive. Children in Afghanistan face so many
challenges that do not only affect their emotional but also their physical and
mental development. Unfortunately, all what I can do is advocate for these children
and raise awareness of the issues facing these children. As an anti bias
educator, I believe it is our responsibility to teach my students about other
children from other parts of the world to raise their awareness for these
issues and at the same time to help them to respect and appreciate others.
Resources:
Thank you, Bouthaina. What an incredibly sad situation. An entire generation of children with no one who cares and no protection .
ReplyDeleteI was reading about stunting as well and the efforts made in Africa to get people to think about the children first because of their vulnerability. If they are not given a strong start they will be subject to many complications as they get older.
Thank you UNICEF for taking on the plight of the world's children. People are so keen to fight for their rights and territory that they ignore the rights of those who do not have a voice.
Speaking of your country, I read also in the site that the needs of children have not been mentioned in the up-coming election rhetoric, because they do not vote or wield power. They are being ignored by the most influential people in the country.
It would be easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless to make a difference. But every little one that is given a glimmer of hope through clean water or education is a step in the right direction.
It was difficult to read the extreme devastation in the lives of these children but necessary to know.
Thanks for that.
I really enjoyed reading your post about the children in Afghanistan. I think it is very important that we do review these types of issues so that we have a deeper understanding of the issues and traumas that are facing children around the world. Great job!
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