THE CRISIS-THE URGENCY

CRISIS STATISTICS PERTAINING TO THE ORPHANS OF THE AFGHANISTAN WAR

Deaths from Combat (Direct & Indirect):

46,000 civilians killed directly in the Afghanistan war (2001–2021); children made up a significant portion.
Source: Watson Institute, Brown University – “Costs of War” (2021)
360,000 additional deaths estimated from indirect causes such as starvation, disease, and displacement.
Source: UNDP Afghanistan Human Development Report (2022)
In the first half of 2021, 468 children were killed and 1,214 wounded due to intensified fighting.
Source: UNAMA – Midyear Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (2021)

Child Soldiers:

An estimated 8,000 children have been used as soldiers, police, or militia members across Afghanistan.
Source: Child Soldiers International – Global Report (2022)
Children as young as 14 are forcibly recruited for combat and suicide missions.
Source: Human Rights Watch – “Taliban Child Recruitment” (2021)
In 2019, 357 child soldiers were intercepted and protected by Child Protection Units.
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan Annual Report (2020)

Kidnapping, Sex Trafficking & Child Marriage:

Afghanistan remains a Tier 3 country for human trafficking, failing to meet minimum standards.
Source: U.S. Department of State – Trafficking in Persons Report (2023)
Bacha bazi (sexual exploitation of boys) continues under Taliban rule, with no legal enforcement.
Source: UNODC – Afghanistan Country Profile (2022)
28% of Afghan girls are married before age 18; many are orphaned and sold into marriage.
Source: UNICEF – Child Marriage Data (2023)

Starvation & Disease:

3.3 million children face acute food insecurity; many orphanages cannot provide consistent meals.
Source: IPC – Afghanistan Food Security Report (2023)
In 2022, 28,000 children under age 5 were hospitalized for severe acute malnutrition.
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan Nutrition Update (2022)
45% of child deaths are linked to undernutrition.
Source: Humanium – Children in Afghanistan (2023)
212 children die daily from preventable diseases due to lack of access to healthcare.
Source: WHO Afghanistan Health Bulletin (2023)

Homelessness & Hard Labor:

3.2 million children are internally displaced, many living without shelter or adult supervision.
Source: UNHCR – Afghanistan Displacement Report (2023)
60,000 children work on the streets of Kabul alone, often in hazardous conditions.
Source: The Borgen Project – Afghan Orphanages (2023)
Children are forced into begging, domestic servitude, and manual labor with no legal protection.
Source: EUAA – Country Guidance Afghanistan (2023)

Lack of Education:

4.2 million children are out of school; 60% are girls barred from education beyond Grade 6.
Source: UNICEF – Education in Afghanistan Report (2023)
In 2024, 7.9 million children required emergency education support, including 888,000 with disabilities.
Source: UNOCHA – Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs Overview (2024)
Only 20% of school-aged returnee children from Pakistan and Iran access education due to poverty and documentation issues.
Source: UNHCR – Regional Refugee Response Plan (2023)

WHY THESE STATS MATTER:

These figures validate the mission of Shield the Orphans of War Society to: