Citation

Neto MLR, Lima NNR, Machado SSF, Vasconcelos JPM, de Carvalho SMF, Júnior JG, de Oliveira CRT, Dos Anjos de Paula J, Pedro UNSF. Child Abuse Negl. 2021; 123: e105421.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105421

PMID

34890959

Abstract

Almost 60% of Afghans forced to flee their homes in 2021 because of the Taliban advance are children. They are starving. It is estimated that approximately one million will suffer from severe, life-threatening malnutrition by the end of 2021. Many have been separated from their families by the chaos that has ensued in Afghanistan after Taliban took power, and hundreds of them were driven out of the country unaccompanied. How must these children have been when they suddenly found themselves without their relatives during the chaotic crisis, or when they boarded an evacuation flight? It is vital to identify them quickly. Too many children witnessed scenes that no child should see. Children and teenagers are dealing with anxiety and fear and desperately need help and mental health care. This is the sad reality facing Afghan children, regardless of ongoing political developments and changes in government.

Language: en

Keywords

Children; Violence; Afghanistan; Life risk; Malnutrition