When the Taliban returned to power, Afghanistan’s fragile economy deteriorated further. Jobs vanished, salaries decreased, and many families already living on the edge were pushed into deeper hardship. Among them is Farida, a 34-year-old mother from Herat, whose life has become a daily struggle to feed her children.
Farida, originally from the Karkh district of Herat, now lives in the city with her four daughters, aged between four and thirteen. Her husband is addicted to drugs. He works in a bakery, but the little he earns rarely reaches the household. “Most of his wage goes to his addiction,” she explains quietly.
For years, Farida supported her family by washing clothes and cleaning for a household in the city. That work ended when the family left Afghanistan. With no income and rising prices, she watched her situation worsen week by week. The pressure increased during her last pregnancy.
“When it was only the girls, we often lived on flat dry bread. Some days we had nothing,” she says. “While I was pregnant, I kept thinking how I would keep another baby alive.”
Farida says that when she gave birth, she learned that a family was looking for a baby boy. “I took their number and called them one day. They came, saw the baby, and we agreed on eighteen thousand afghanis.”
She explains that her husband did not object and accepted the decision to give up their child. Farida recalls that moment with deep sadness, but says she had no choice. The burden of hardship was heavy on her, and she could not see another way forward.
A year has passed. Farida has given birth to another son, but her circumstances remain unchanged. With food prices rising and no steady income, she says she is preparing to give this baby to another family for 25,000 afghanis.
“If my husband could work properly, or if I could find a job, I would never do this,” she says. “But I see no other way.”
Neighbours and relatives say they have seen similar situations in recent months. Many women who head households alone rely on irregular work or the support of others who themselves have very little to give.
Habiba, a relative, says the family cannot offer help. “She asked us to help find someone who could take the baby. She wants her daughters to at least have bread.”
Despite everything, Farida holds on to her daughters as her source of strength. “Until they grow up and can support themselves, I will endure,” she says. “I can sleep on a stone if I have to.”
Her story mirrors the experience of many women in Afghanistan who must support their families under tightening restrictions and deepening poverty. The painful choices they make to survive reveal the scale of the country’s economic and social crisis, and the heavy burden carried by those with the fewest resources.
Photo credited: Internet
