Afghan children as young as 8 are being married to repay family debts amid drought and hunger. Photographer Élise Blanchard documents the crisis in a Guardian article.
Hunger forces early marriages in Afghanistan
After years of drought, hunger has become part of daily life for Afghans. Many families have no choice but to promise their daughters in marriage to secure a few hundred euros, which can be used to buy food or pay off debts.A young girl’s struggle with forced marriage
Khatira, an 11-year-old girl from Qala-e-Naw in Badghis province, was promised in marriage to help her family repay debts. She lives with her mother, Noor Bibi, who says Khatira was in good health before the engagement but now cries often and is worried.Photographer documents the crisis
Photographer Élise Blanchard traveled across Afghanistan to meet children married at a young age. She shared her findings in an article for The Guardian, highlighting the growing issue of child marriages driven by economic hardship.Food insecurity affects millions
According to the UN, nearly 16 million Afghans are facing acute food insecurity, a number that could rise to 19 million during winter. In Badghis province, 95% of the population relies on agriculture and livestock, which have been severely impacted by prolonged droughts.Droughts worsen food and income crises
Years of drought, worsened by climate change, have made the land arid and destroyed crops. Afghanistan is the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change, and the effects are felt most acutely by its rural populations.Early pregnancies and domestic violence
Gul Bobo, a mother whose daughters are already engaged, fears they will face domestic violence and early pregnancies. In Afghanistan, early pregnancies during puberty are common and can lead to serious health complications.Families sacrifice children to survive
In the villages of Badghis, families often sacrifice a child to save the rest of the household. Gulalai Niaz Mohammad, a farmer, says they had no choice but to give up a family member to survive the droughts and economic collapse.Climate change is unknown to many
Most people in Badghis province have no understanding of climate change. The concepts of overconsumption and greenhouse gas emissions are foreign to those living in small, rural communities without access to electricity or modern education.Taliban rule lowers marriage age
The Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 removed the legal minimum age for marriage, which was previously 16. This has led to more child marriages, with dowries ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand euros, paid in installments.Reduced aid threatens girls’ health
As foreign aid dwindles, programs that support young girls are disappearing. Mark Calder of World Vision International warns that early marriage exposes girls to health risks, but clinics that care for them are also disappearing.Psychological impact on young brides
Forced marriages have a profound psychological impact on young brides. In Qala-e-Naw, Sara tries to avoid contact with her daughter’s in-laws to prevent Aisha, 12, from being taken away to marry a 20-year-old man.
