Five sisters at Alawuddin Girls Orphanage, located on Kabul's busy Darul Aman Road, have no idea about their future because the orphanage is facing a funding shortfall, making it difficult to provide food, clothing, and a warm environment during the harsh winter.
Afghanistan has 68 state-run and private orphanages, although 26 of them have closed due to the country's economic woes. Others will close as well if the country's financial troubles persist.
Orphanages in the country are grappling with the crisis, particularly food shortages after the US blocked over $9 billion of the country's Central Bank reserves and international donors halted humanitarian aid.
After more than 40 years of political turbulence and the killing of tens of thousands of civilians in wars, the country has been facing numerous hardships, including economic challenges since the Taliban took power in August.
According to figures from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program, 22.8 million people, or more than half of the country's population, will face severe food shortages if the current crisis persists.
Comments