An Afghan Orphanage Struggles to Provide Food
2021-10-22
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1A large orphanage in Kabul is limiting meals for the children it cares for because it is running out of money.
2Ahmad Khalil Mayan is head of Shamsa Children's Village.
3It is in the northern part of Afghanistan's capital.
4Afghanistan has lost millions of dollars in aid since the Taliban took control of the country.
5Mayan told Reuters that he has been contacting many of his past donors for help.
6"Most of them have left the country - Afghan donors, foreign donors, embassies.
7When I call them or email them, no one is answering me," he said.
8"We are now trying to run the place with very little money and with little food," he added.
9There are about 130 children at the orphanage.
10The youngest are three years of age.
11It has been open for more than 10 years.
12It provides shelter for children whose parents have died or do not have the money to look after them.
13One of the children is nine-year-old Samira.
14She has been at the orphanage for almost two years since her father died and her mother did not have the money to support her or her brothers.
15She is already taking extra classes and wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
16"I want to serve my homeland and save others from disease, and I also want other girls to study so that they become a doctor like me in the future," she said.
17There are many orphanages in Afghanistan.
18Tens of thousands of people have been killed in wars over the past 40 years.
19The lack of money, since the Taliban retook control of the country, is forcing Mayan to make difficult choices.
20The orphanage tried to send a few children back to relatives who had the money to take care of them.
21 But all the children have returned.
22Mayan said he has had to reduce the amount of food and the kinds of food the children eat.
23"Before we were providing them twice a week fruit and twice a week meat, but we cut those items to just once a week or maybe not even (that much)."
24Facing an economic crisis, Taliban officials have urged Western governments to continue sending aid.
25It has also asked the United States to lift a block on more than $9 billion of Afghan central bank money held in foreign countries.
26Many countries, including the U.S., do not recognize the Taliban government.
27Some governments are demanding that the group guarantee basic freedoms, including permitting girls to attend school and women to work.
28The Taliban banned all girls' education when they ruled from 1996 to 2001.
29But they have said they are now considering the issue.
30A weekly limit of $200 on bank withdrawals has also hurt the orphanage
31 That amount is not enough for the needs of the children and workers.
32Mayan fears that if the situation continues, the orphanage would not be able to stay open much longer.
33That would be disastrous for the children, who receive mathematics, English and computer lessons there, as well as food and shelter.
34Samira, the child who hopes to become a doctor, recognizes that to reach her goals, she may have to leave the country to study.
35"I am not allowed to study here," she said.
36I'm Dan Novak.
1A large orphanage in Kabul is limiting meals for the children it cares for because it is running out of money. 2Ahmad Khalil Mayan is head of Shamsa Children's Village. It is in the northern part of Afghanistan's capital. 3Afghanistan has lost millions of dollars in aid since the Taliban took control of the country. Mayan told Reuters that he has been contacting many of his past donors for help. 4"Most of them have left the country - Afghan donors, foreign donors, embassies. When I call them or email them, no one is answering me," he said. 5"We are now trying to run the place with very little money and with little food," he added. 6There are about 130 children at the orphanage. The youngest are three years of age. It has been open for more than 10 years. It provides shelter for children whose parents have died or do not have the money to look after them. 7One of the children is nine-year-old Samira. She has been at the orphanage for almost two years since her father died and her mother did not have the money to support her or her brothers. She is already taking extra classes and wants to be a doctor when she grows up. 8"I want to serve my homeland and save others from disease, and I also want other girls to study so that they become a doctor like me in the future," she said. 9There are many orphanages in Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in wars over the past 40 years. 10The lack of money, since the Taliban retook control of the country, is forcing Mayan to make difficult choices. The orphanage tried to send a few children back to relatives who had the money to take care of them. But all the children have returned. 11Mayan said he has had to reduce the amount of food and the kinds of food the children eat. 12"Before we were providing them twice a week fruit and twice a week meat, but we cut those items to just once a week or maybe not even (that much)." 13Facing an economic crisis, Taliban officials have urged Western governments to continue sending aid. It has also asked the United States to lift a block on more than $9 billion of Afghan central bank money held in foreign countries. Many countries, including the U.S., do not recognize the Taliban government. 14Some governments are demanding that the group guarantee basic freedoms, including permitting girls to attend school and women to work. The Taliban banned all girls' education when they ruled from 1996 to 2001. But they have said they are now considering the issue. 15A weekly limit of $200 on bank withdrawals has also hurt the orphanage. That amount is not enough for the needs of the children and workers. 16Mayan fears that if the situation continues, the orphanage would not be able to stay open much longer. That would be disastrous for the children, who receive mathematics, English and computer lessons there, as well as food and shelter. 17Samira, the child who hopes to become a doctor, recognizes that to reach her goals, she may have to leave the country to study. 18"I am not allowed to study here," she said. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam reported this story for Reuters. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 21_______________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23orphanage - n. a place where children, whose parents have died or who cannot care for them, can live and be cared for; a home for orphans 24twice -adj. two times 25allow - v. to permit; to let something happen