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Feeling devastated after seeing this news about Afghanistan

455 replies

LovingLilacDuck · 19/05/2026 08:13

I stumbled across this on BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q25dwj807o

I can’t stop crying. I feel so incredibly devastated that we live in such an unequal world. I cannot believe in 2026 people have to starve and children die — and girls be sold??? because of hunger. Goodness sake. That’s not right, it’s so inhumane. Seeing the tears on those tiny girls’ eyes and how fearful they are just breaks my heart so much, oh Gosh.

I just really feel sorry for these people who have to live under Taliban and suffer immensely. It’s so heartbreaking. And I know these people are not the only ones unfortunately…I just feel like we all have so much, more than we all need to and I wish we could just help the poor more as a whole world. But that doesn’t bring any profits does it???!

I wish I could do something to help, whatever that may be. Does anyone have a clue about what to do? I’d appreciate any insight. Thank you.

A man wearing a pink turban cuddles his small daughter close in front of a cracked mud wall

Afghanistan humanitarian crisis: Ghor's starving families

In Afghanistan today, a staggering three in four people cannot meet their basic needs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q25dwj807o

OP posts:
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19
socialdilemmawhattodo · 20/05/2026 23:30

noctilucentcloud · 19/05/2026 08:41

The Linda Norgrove Foundation is an excellent charity run out of Scotland which specifically helps women and children in Afghanistan. If you google them and look at their website you can see some of the things they've supported over the last few years. They have very low running costs and work with people in Afghanistan including other charities.

I think possibly is the female afghan support charity that I mention on here a lot, but could never quite catch the name.

Gealach · 20/05/2026 23:31

1dayatatime · 20/05/2026 22:48

When the West intervened in Afghanistan and tried to improve the lives of women and children they were criticised by many in the West as colonialists or "only there for the Afghan oil" (which there isn't any).

So the West then pull out of Afghanistan and now there are those in the West criticising the lack of support for women and children in Afghanistan.

It would be funny if it wasn't so bloody tragic for the women and children.

The west interfered initially in Afghanistan to stop Al-Qaeda. I think everyone understood that and didn’t think it had to do with oil?

Then they tried to build a democracy and part of that was improving the lives of women and girls. But there were errors in their approach which seem to be clearly acknowledged in US reports on this.

GaIadriel · 20/05/2026 23:47

FernFaery · 20/05/2026 07:48

‘Only men can fix this’ only men CAUSED it so don’t you dare!

Newsflash: It wasn't the men that caused it that are suffering under it.

Would you really say you have no sympathy for black men being lynched by the KKK because they're part of the sex largely responsible for creating the organisation?

Would a gay man share group culpability for the actions of the homophobic thugs stamping on his head?

What about states in America banning abortion? It's an American problem so American women can hardly complain about it, can they? It was Americans that passed those laws.

This is the problem endemic to feminist logic. It myopically focuses on sex when in fact there are many equally dividing factors. Do you think most Arab women advocating to 'free Palestine' would side with an Israeli woman over an Arab man sharing their views?

Gealach · 20/05/2026 23:47

RingoJuice · 20/05/2026 16:48

Fair if I missed these stories. But selling daughters so young seems to be very particular. (And to be clear, I’m not saying Ethiopia is some bastion of women’s rights. I’m saying that people in most cultures would not consider selling their daughters into sex slavery)

Yes Ethiopia certainly isn’t and it was a very poor example.

But my point is that desperation and hunger does lead to these situations. During the Irish famine, for example, and just because I know the history well, people did not tend to their dying relatives, parents abandoned their children at workhouse gates and parents went on coffin ships leaving their children behind.

At the time British press and politicians told these stories to paint Irish people as being savages, uncivilised, uniquely cold and unloving parents and the makers of their own downfall. It was seen as something inherent in Irish culture, something that could not be changed…which justified the governments inhumane actions during the Irish famine.

DeathNote11 · 20/05/2026 23:57

Schingsching · 19/05/2026 21:39

Child marriage is legal in several US states.

Abortion is illegal, even in cases of rape and incest and medical emergency, in the US in almost every state and jurisdiction.

HTH with your hypocrisy only posting about mass human rights violations in other shit hole countries such as Afghanistan.

Edited

Seriously? Is that the weak ass, morally devoid, flimsy bit of lazy thinking that convinced you on this issue? Really? Go Google the dunning kruger effect. Then just shut up & stop making a fool of yourself.

GaIadriel · 21/05/2026 01:31

Alltheprettyseahorses · 20/05/2026 08:13

Yeah, all those poor, helpless men only selling their daughters as they have done for hundreds of years because the evil west makes them. They never sell their sons. Or get up and work. It's all our fault, and never theirs as the new faux-left orientalism tells us. I'm just wondering exactly when people are expected to take responsibility for themselves.

They never sell their sons. Or get up and work.

The article describes huge crowds of men standing by the road all day long waiting for work and how only one work offer was made for somebody to carry bricks, which caused a desperate scramble as all the men wanted it. They don't work because there is no work for them.

You shouldn't state your opinions as fact as they're clearly inaccurate. It's no different to when men say things like "women want equal pay but don't want to work as hard as men". Although that's possibly a more defensible statement as it seems there are always a lot more women moaning about 'male dominated jobs' than there are women who are prepared to step up and do these jobs.

And they'd probably sell their sons too if there was a market. Like how some cultures sell male children into servitude - e.g. Africans selling their sons to Arabs. Just like how more men would do sex work if there was a bigger demand for it, which is evident when you look at how many famous bodybuilders have done 'gay for pay' work. If there's demand and money to be made then people will do it.

Expecting a load of goatherders to take on a heavily armed militia is a bit naive. It's like asking why people in concentration camps didn't revolt despite outnumbering their captors a thousand to one. It's illogical to lump all the men together. It's more the Taliban and their subordinates, including men just trying to feed their families any way possible without getting beheaded. I'd imagine it's not unlike the covid period where many were keen to tell on their neighbours.

FernFaery · 21/05/2026 02:20

Gealach · 20/05/2026 23:47

Yes Ethiopia certainly isn’t and it was a very poor example.

But my point is that desperation and hunger does lead to these situations. During the Irish famine, for example, and just because I know the history well, people did not tend to their dying relatives, parents abandoned their children at workhouse gates and parents went on coffin ships leaving their children behind.

At the time British press and politicians told these stories to paint Irish people as being savages, uncivilised, uniquely cold and unloving parents and the makers of their own downfall. It was seen as something inherent in Irish culture, something that could not be changed…which justified the governments inhumane actions during the Irish famine.

Edited

Oh God I wondered how long it would be before the famine was mentioned

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 05:10

Rituelec · 20/05/2026 20:47

I think its kindness and compassion that makes some of us weep. No woman or girl is free until we all are. I can't imagine not feeling sad reading this.

Reasons or whatever aside, why is it unreasonable to feel sad?

Unfortunately, you cannot think like this, because are you willing to occupy a country and brutally kill those men who don’t comply? Marginalize women who support this system? Unless you are willing to do harsh colonization (on par or worse than what the Soviets did to the ‘stan’ countries) then you cannot ‘free’ anyone. America tried in a very soft way, but just disseminating propaganda or financially rewarding those who comply have hard limits.

And Western countries for the most part don’t have the confidence to promote their values in their own countries, let alone try to impose them on others.

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 05:24

Gealach · 20/05/2026 23:47

Yes Ethiopia certainly isn’t and it was a very poor example.

But my point is that desperation and hunger does lead to these situations. During the Irish famine, for example, and just because I know the history well, people did not tend to their dying relatives, parents abandoned their children at workhouse gates and parents went on coffin ships leaving their children behind.

At the time British press and politicians told these stories to paint Irish people as being savages, uncivilised, uniquely cold and unloving parents and the makers of their own downfall. It was seen as something inherent in Irish culture, something that could not be changed…which justified the governments inhumane actions during the Irish famine.

Edited

You are trying to universalize the actions of people in a famine. But people will act within the bounds of their culture. I don’t see how selling children could ever be considered acceptable in most cultures. They can sell their daughters because culturally it’s okay to arrange marriages of young girls and receive money as a ‘bride price’, it works within something already widely done, but at an extreme level.

It’s not even to the point of famine in Afghanistan, it’s classified as food insecurity, and already stories like this are coming out.

Wearenotborg · 21/05/2026 05:52

Octavia64 · 20/05/2026 22:49

I am not normally a supporter of the communist party of China but one of the positive impacts of communism there was the total abolition of slavery.

it is no longer a thing in China.

Unless you’re a Uyghur…. Or do they not count…

welshgirl2025 · 21/05/2026 05:57

Whilst I understand your compassion and upset save your tears for the women being assaulted by the Afghans here illegally in Britain. Many Afghans are brutal in their treatment of their women. It is their culture as are many other nationalities. Thanks to the Taliban, now back in power thanks to Biden and the USA Administration, the lives of women there are intolerable and turned the clock back decades for them. Britain has enough worries in terms of homelessness, child cruelty and poverty, animal cruelty. I give to charities near to my home where I can see the difference my donation makes. As for having more than we need. Tell that those working all hours and still struggling to pay their mortgages and using food banks.

Twinandatwoyearold · 21/05/2026 06:01

Borrowerdale · 20/05/2026 22:27

We seem to have got to the point where left wing progressives are now supporting slavery…

This. It’s incredible. There is no defence/excuse for slavery and child rape. And it is slavery as confirmed by anti slavery charities. Rape that leads to fistulas as the girls are so young. Sex with kids (boys and girls) is acceptable in Afghan culture. Child marriage is not a new phenomenon. Drug use among men is reportedly high.

Is it virtue signalling, naivety or vindictiveness?

And I agree with the person who said Western countries are struggling to enforce our own values, morals and beliefs in our own nations. And we certainly are not protecting our vulnerable citizens from crime.

Rape gangs are one such example - privately funded inquiry which should lead to private prosecutions.

Asylum seekers raping women and children and get to stay here being another. I am unsure why we want to import men who feel it’s okay to sell their daughters for sex with an old man. Or who rape boys and jump through mental gymnastics hoops to say it’s okay and not against religion because it’s not a homosexual act! (Link above on my previous post). If they rape in Afghanistan why won’t they rape in Britain?

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 06:36

Wearenotborg · 21/05/2026 05:52

Unless you’re a Uyghur…. Or do they not count…

You do know they committed some horrific terrorist attacks in China? Are they just supposed to …. accept that every so often a Uighyer will try to kill innocent Chinese for literally no reason other than existing?

Wearenotborg · 21/05/2026 06:41

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 06:36

You do know they committed some horrific terrorist attacks in China? Are they just supposed to …. accept that every so often a Uighyer will try to kill innocent Chinese for literally no reason other than existing?

But hold on, didn’t the Chinese oppress them and force them into camps? Wasn’t their treatment considered crimes against humanity by other governments? Don't some people in the UK say that Hamas was justified in committing the Oct 7th atrocities because they were oppressed by Israel? Or is it OK if Hamas do it, but not if Uyghurs do?

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 06:55

Wearenotborg · 21/05/2026 06:41

But hold on, didn’t the Chinese oppress them and force them into camps? Wasn’t their treatment considered crimes against humanity by other governments? Don't some people in the UK say that Hamas was justified in committing the Oct 7th atrocities because they were oppressed by Israel? Or is it OK if Hamas do it, but not if Uyghurs do?

I don’t care what leftist idiots have argued.

When I lived in Beijing, a car full of terrorists rolled up Tiananmen Square and started knifing people. Two tourists died.

And down in Kunming, THIRTY people were knifed to death at a train station—this is a popular spot for tourists. It was meant to terrorize the Chinese population.

Forcing radical elements into camps was a response to this and other attacks. Honestly, what do you want China to do? Accept these radicalized men in their society and just have innocents die every couple of years in a violent attack?

Note that the Chinese authorities don’t do this to Tibetans and other minority groups. Please meditate on why that is. (To be clear, I do think the situation in Tibet is incredibly sad)

Gealach · 21/05/2026 07:39

Wow @RingoJuice I can see that there is no point where your views and mind could meet if you think China had no other option than to put 1 million Uyghur into horrific detention with no legal process, separate children from their parents and destroy religious sites ect….

Even the people who think it is fine and dandy to respond to a terrorist attack by destroying Gaza, killing men, women and children and causing a humanitarian crisis where everyone suffers think China could do better here.

Twinandatwoyearold · 21/05/2026 08:08

Plenty of criticism on SM today about this BBC documentary/propaganda.

Also reports of ex military Afghan soldiers arriving here from Belgium. It’s like the bbc wanted to get ahead of the narrative and gain sympathy for the ex Afghan soldiers.

Emilesgran · 21/05/2026 08:16

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 06:55

I don’t care what leftist idiots have argued.

When I lived in Beijing, a car full of terrorists rolled up Tiananmen Square and started knifing people. Two tourists died.

And down in Kunming, THIRTY people were knifed to death at a train station—this is a popular spot for tourists. It was meant to terrorize the Chinese population.

Forcing radical elements into camps was a response to this and other attacks. Honestly, what do you want China to do? Accept these radicalized men in their society and just have innocents die every couple of years in a violent attack?

Note that the Chinese authorities don’t do this to Tibetans and other minority groups. Please meditate on why that is. (To be clear, I do think the situation in Tibet is incredibly sad)

Ref Tibet: isn’t that because they already did all that back in the 50s when nobody talked about this sort of thing and now they’ve basically colonised Tibet with ethnic Chinese to ensure that the Tibetans don’t have the opportunity to ever get organised?

This study says that in some parts of Tibet, Han Chinese now outnumber the native population. That was a strategy adopted by the Chinese government, not the result of people migrating to a place where life was easier than in their home region.
https://indiafoundation.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Monograph-14-Tenzin-Younten-Chinas-Population-Invasion-of-Tibet-26-Nov-2024-vin-final.pdf

https://indiafoundation.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Monograph-14-Tenzin-Younten-Chinas-Population-Invasion-of-Tibet-26-Nov-2024-vin-final.pdf

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 08:18

Gealach · 21/05/2026 07:39

Wow @RingoJuice I can see that there is no point where your views and mind could meet if you think China had no other option than to put 1 million Uyghur into horrific detention with no legal process, separate children from their parents and destroy religious sites ect….

Even the people who think it is fine and dandy to respond to a terrorist attack by destroying Gaza, killing men, women and children and causing a humanitarian crisis where everyone suffers think China could do better here.

Why negotiate with the type of people that would kill you for just being a normal Chinese person? These weren’t ’peaceful Muslims’ and as you may or may not know, China has a lot of Muslims that have integrated into society (most famously the Hui) and they are not targeted unless they are involved in extremist groups.

You may think it’s acceptable for Uighers to sporadically kill people in terrorist attacks and I would say many Europeans agree with you because you’ve normalized people dying in random attacks. But you’ve no real solution to this issue, and then you cry when China decides to solve this problem. Because terrorist attacks have indeed become rarer since they’ve started detaining radicalized Islamists.

Twinandatwoyearold · 21/05/2026 08:19

Nicholas Parlinck is a local force chief. Extract from news report:

‘A growing number of military men have been spotted "accompanying" the boats - making it too dangerous for police to intervene, local force chief Nicholas Paelinck said this week.

With French authorities taking a stricter approach to monitoring the would-be migrants, small boat smuggling gangs have moved to launch from Belgium.
But armed men have rendered authorities impotent to stop the boats.
"Normally, we try to puncture the boat beforehand to prevent the crossing to the United Kingdom," Mr Paelinck said.

But that is not possible here, because you see ex-military personnel from Iraq circling the boat to ensure the police cannot get to it.
"Officers were threatened by the soldiers, and a mirror was even smashed with an iron bar. We conducted a risk analysis, and it is too dangerous to operate on that beach anymore. We will not do that again."
Police have also found "weapons of war and ammunition" in migrant tent camps, and have warned it is "only a matter of time" before officers are confronted.
Ostend police chief Hannelore Hochepied told Belgian MPs it will only get more difficult, with summer a "very busy period" for his men.

www.gbnews.com/news/migrant-crisis-soldiers-iraq-afghanistan-small-boat-belgium

One in five small boat crossings set off from Belgium as people smugglers try to dodge border patrols

The insider warned it was a 'big problem'

https://www.gbnews.com/news/migrant-crisis-small-boats-belgium-dodge-border-patrols

Borrowerdale · 21/05/2026 08:19

Gealach · 20/05/2026 23:31

The west interfered initially in Afghanistan to stop Al-Qaeda. I think everyone understood that and didn’t think it had to do with oil?

Then they tried to build a democracy and part of that was improving the lives of women and girls. But there were errors in their approach which seem to be clearly acknowledged in US reports on this.

Alexander the Great (Greek) invaded the area that is Afghanistan in 330 BC. More latterly it was a British Protectorate in the Nineteenth century. Both well before Al-Qaeda existed.

RingoJuice · 21/05/2026 08:21

Emilesgran · 21/05/2026 08:16

Ref Tibet: isn’t that because they already did all that back in the 50s when nobody talked about this sort of thing and now they’ve basically colonised Tibet with ethnic Chinese to ensure that the Tibetans don’t have the opportunity to ever get organised?

This study says that in some parts of Tibet, Han Chinese now outnumber the native population. That was a strategy adopted by the Chinese government, not the result of people migrating to a place where life was easier than in their home region.
https://indiafoundation.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Monograph-14-Tenzin-Younten-Chinas-Population-Invasion-of-Tibet-26-Nov-2024-vin-final.pdf

I don’t agree with any of that by the way. Tibetans are being culturally and economically erased from their own cities.

But you’ll note that they aren’t forced into camps and told to abandon the radical elements of their religion. Because the Tibetan way of protest is to set themselves on fire instead of killing other people ….

Borrowerdale · 21/05/2026 08:22

Newsflash: It wasn't the men that caused it that are suffering under it.

How is getting to buy your brother’s five year old daughter as a slave that you can rape with impunity ‘suffering’?

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 21/05/2026 08:23

Child rape and paedophilia is a huge problem in the uk too. Under the same circumstances many british men would do exactly the same. It’s woeful ignorance to think otherwise.

Borrowerdale · 21/05/2026 08:24

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 21/05/2026 08:23

Child rape and paedophilia is a huge problem in the uk too. Under the same circumstances many british men would do exactly the same. It’s woeful ignorance to think otherwise.

And would you claim those men are ‘suffering’?