Poverty, economic crisis in Afghanistan leads to child marriages

Kabul : Poverty, unemployment, and severe economic problems in Ghur province of Afghanistan have forced families to marry their underage daughters to middle-aged men in exchange of money, weapons, or livestock, as reported by the news agency Raha Press.

According to the report, some of the shocking stories have come to light where families sold their one year old daughters in exchange of money, livestock, and weapons. The buying and selling rate of an underage girl is usually between 100,000 and 250,000 Afghanis in the province.

The report mentions that the first priority is to get cash and in case buyer fails to give cash then he provides the girl’s family weapons or livestock in return.

Buying and selling of girls or child marriage in exchange for money were common before, but after the fall of the Afghanistan government and the ensuing economic turmoil, more families are forced to take this route.

The Taliban officials in the region have refused to say anything on the matter.