Low graphics   |   Mobile      Login   |   About us      
Sat, 20:24 17 May 2008 GMT17

 
Afghanistan

A woman carries her child in Kabul. REUTERS/Ahmad Masood

Security is deteriorating once more in Afghanistan, just as it emerges from a quarter century of conflict. Insurgents often target civilians, but disease is the main child killer - an estimated 600 under-fives die every day, mostly due to preventable illnesses like malaria and measles.

  • A quarter of children don't see their fifth birthday - the fourth highest rate in the world.

  • More than half of children are stunted.

  • In eleven provinces 80 to 99 percent of girls don't go to school.

  • A fifth of primary school children do some form of work.

  • Children are at risk from insurgent and military operations, landmines and unexploded ordinance.
"The most important thing now is to have all children in school. That's very important for the development of the country." UNICEF deputy executive director Rima Salah


To find out more see our Afghanistan crisis briefing.



Printable view  |  Email this article  |  Send comments



URL: http://www.alertnet.org/AFchildren.htm

For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org