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In January, the United Nations launched its largest funding appeal for a single country, $4.5 billion, for Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took over the country six months ago, the withdrawal of foreign assistance, coupled with sanctions, has had a devastating effect on the economy. Hunger has led people to take extreme measures. VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem went to a neighborhood in Herat province, where selling one's kidneys seems to be a common practice.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptAfghanistan Selling Kidneys
HEADLINE: Afghans Sell Kidneys to Feed Hungry Children
TEASER: Acute hunger is forcing people to extreme measure, including selling their kidneys
PUBLISHED AT: 02/13/2022 at 3:59 pm
BYLINE: Ayesha Tanzeem
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: HERAT, AFGHANISTAN
VIDEOGRAPHER: Habibullah Azizi
PRODUCER: Malik Waqar Ahmed
SCRIPT EDITORS: sv, Steve Hirsch
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[In January, the United Nations launched its largest funding appeal for a single country, $4.5 billion, for Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took over the country six months ago, the withdrawal of foreign assistance, coupled with sanctions, has had a devastating effect on the economy. Hunger has led people to take extreme measures. VOA’s Ayesha Tanzeem went to a neighborhood in Herat province, where selling one's kidneys seems to be a common practice.]]
((Narrator))
Fareeba (eds: one name) can now only perform light work around the house. Her health is not the same since she sold her kidney around two years ago. For her already poor family, the last six months have brought extra pain.
((Fareeba, Herat resident) female in Dari)) 1:31—1:60
“My husband is jobless for four or five months. We are seven people, and we have a new baby in our family. We can’t feed her. We have nothing to eat. We don’t have anything to burn for heat. My children are sick.”
((Narrator))
Before the Taliban took over Afghanistan, her husband worked as a daily laborer, earning less than $3 a day. Since then, there is hardly any work, and no income.
She received around $2,000 for her kidney. But the money went toward debt the family had accumulated.
In her neighborhood, this seems to be the norm. All these men, and many of the women who did not want to appear on camera, have sold their kidneys. One man told VOA each of his five brothers had done so. (#63)
In a camp a few kilometers away, Allah Nazar was also forced to sell his kidney three months ago. So did all the other men who appear in this video.
(Allah Nazar, Herat resident)
00:42—00:56
“After the change in government, everything became so expensive. We wanted to leave the country, but we couldn’t. So, I had to sell my kidney.”
((Narrator))
He used to have a farm and animals. But everything was destroyed during the war. He is one of 9 million Afghans who are displaced from their homes.
((Ayesha Tanzeem, VOA News) standup version)) #250
((Narrator) non-standup version))
“Even before the Taliban took over Afghanistan, it was a poor country that was heavily dependent on foreign aid. The loss of all that aid, coupled with the uncertainty that has led to the loss of work and jobs and businesses, has made the situation in the last six months significantly worse.”
Half of Afghanistan’s population faces acute hunger, according to the United Nations. People are forced to take desperate measures.
Zainullah (eds: one name) sold his kidney around a month and a half ago.
((Zainullah, Herat resident) man in Dari)) 4:21—4:53
“I borrowed from people because I needed money to feed my family. But even my brother stopped giving me money because everyone has their own needs. ... My family needs food, and one packet of wheat is now 20 dollars. I couldn’t feed my family. So, I sacrificed my body because my children were hungry.”
Back in Fareeba’s house, things seem more dire by the day. The family has been eating plain rice for dinner and breakfast. With no help in sight, she is now thinking of selling the youngest of her three daughters.
Ayesha Tanzeem, VOA News, Heart, Afghanistan.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 13, 2022 17:42 EST
BylineAyesha Tanzeem
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
