The Afghan girl who was sold by her parents for $ 2,000 “because we didn’t have enough to eat”

The humanitarian crisis worsens in Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power in August. Driven by hunger, Afghan families are making heartbreaking decisions: sell their daughters.

CNN published the case of Parwana, a 9-year-old girl who already knows that she will be sold as a wife so that the rest of her family can eat.

SIGHT: Afghan families sell their daughters for up to $ 4,000 to feed themselves

“My father has sold me because we don’t have bread, rice and flour. He has sold me to an old man “the little girl told CNN. She said she is concerned that he will beat her and force her to work at his home.

The man bought from Parwana says she is 55 years old, but for her it is “an old man” with white eyebrows and a thick white beard.

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The little girl’s family lives in an Afghan refugee area in the province of Badghis for just over four years. They survive on humanitarian aid and domestic work, earning a few dollars a day.

This is not the only case in the family of Parwana. His 12-year-old sister was also sold a few months ago.

Abdul Malik |, the father of the little girl, cannot sleep at night. Before the sale, he told CNN that he is “shattered” with guilt, shame and worry.

He said he tried to avoid selling it, for this he traveled to the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw to look for work, without success. Borrowed “a lot of money” his relatives, and his wife resorted to asking other residents of the camp for food.

The 9-year-old said she had a dream of becoming a teacher and did not want to give up her education. But his pleas were useless.

On October 24, Victim, the buyer, came to his house and gave 200,000 Afghans (US $ 2,200) in payment of sheep, land and cash to the father of Parwana.

Victim noted that he already had a wife who would take care of Parwana as if it were a member of his family.

“(Parwana) was cheap, and her father was very poor and needs money.”, dijo Qorban. “She will work at my house. I won’t hit her. I will treat her like a member of the family. I’ll be nice “.

Victim assured that he will not treat the little girl as a wife, but Malik you know you have no control over what happens to you now.

“The old man told me: I am paying for the girl. It’s none of your business what I do with it … that’s my problem “, he recounted Malik a CNN.

Qorban, the buyer, gives Parwana’s father 200,000 Afghanis ($ 2,200). (photo captures CNN video).

On the day of the sale, the old man grabbed Parwana by the arm and led her away. As they were leaving, the weeping little girl sank her feet to the ground and tried to pull away, but it was no use. They dragged her to the waiting car, which slowly drove away, CNN says.

Since the Taliban took power, stories like that of Parwana have been increasing.

Although marrying off girls under the age of 15 is illegal across the country, it has been commonly practiced for years, especially in the more rural areas of Afghanistan. And it has only spread since August, fueled by widespread hunger and despair.

The problem is particularly acute for Afghan girls, who have stayed home and seen their siblings return to school since the Taliban took power. They say they are working on a plan to allow the girls to return as well, but have not said when that could happen.

“ It is absolutely catastrophic “he told CNN Heather Barr, Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch. “We do not have months or weeks to stop this emergency … we are already in the emergency”.

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