School children pose for photos at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2021, the World Children's Day. As the World Children's Day was celebrated on Saturday in many countries to promote children's rights for education, health and joy, children in Afghanistan have to work to help their families to survive. Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, said UN aid agencies, warning that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
KABUL, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- As the World Children's Day is celebrated on Saturday in many countries across the globe to promote children's rights to education, health and joy, many children in war-torn Afghanistan have to work on the street to help their families to survive.
"I used to go to school, but nowadays do not go, because the war and poverty have sandwiched us, and in order to survive, my father bought me a cow to graze and to sell its milk to earn money and support the family," 14-year-old Malik told Xinhua on Saturday.
Expressing sadness over leaving school for three years, Malik said his father is jobless and he, as the elder son of the family, has to work to earn a livelihood.
In addition to grazing his cow, Malik also sells things and carry things for customers on the street to earn some money.
The working boy said war was the main reason for his poverty, and everything had been destroyed in the war during the past four decades.
Aminullah Popalzai, a fifth-grade student in a primary school, is also worried about his study, as he has to work after returning home from school. "My aged father doesn't have a job and income, and that is why I have to work to support my family," he said.
He also feared that he might have to abandon the school one day if the burden of his family increases.
"Our children need education, and I am requesting the international community to support the children of Afghanistan to go to school," Aziz, a Kabul resident, suggested.
According to Aziz, many Afghan children don't have breadwinners at home, therefore they have to go to school for half the day and work for the other half day to earn livelihood for their families.
Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, according to UN aid agencies. They warned that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. Enditem
A displaced child holds his brother at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2021, the World Children's Day. As the World Children's Day was celebrated on Saturday in many countries to promote children's rights for education, health and joy, children in Afghanistan have to work to help their families to survive. Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, said UN aid agencies, warning that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Displaced children pose for photos at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2021, the World Children's Day. As the World Children's Day was celebrated on Saturday in many countries to promote children's rights for education, health and joy, children in Afghanistan have to work to help their families to survive. Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, said UN aid agencies, warning that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
School children pose for photos at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2021, the World Children's Day. As the World Children's Day was celebrated on Saturday in many countries to promote children's rights for education, health and joy, children in Afghanistan have to work to help their families to survive. Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, said UN aid agencies, warning that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
Displaced children play at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2021, the World Children's Day. As the World Children's Day was celebrated on Saturday in many countries to promote children's rights for education, health and joy, children in Afghanistan have to work to help their families to survive. Today, more than 22 million Afghans, including millions of children, are facing acute food shortage, said UN aid agencies, warning that any delay in supplying humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country could prove catastrophe in the coming winter. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
