Always veiled, Helmand widow resorts to begging

LASHKARGHA (Pajhwok): Fawzia, who lost her husband to the past conflict, is currently the only breadwinner for her family.

She is living in penury in a tottering house along with a son and six daughters in the Zara Qala area of the 6^th police district of the provincial capital.

Sharing stories of her miserable life, the woman said: “I had never come out of home as long as my spouse was alive, but the war has made life miserable for us.”

She added: “My husband was martyred in a roadside bombing in Nad Ali district six years ago. I’m now begging on streets to support my family.”

Without a caretaker, Fawzia has to eke out a living for her family by seeking alms. “Three more widows are also living in this house that we have jointly rented for 3,000 afghanis a month. Their husbands were also killed in the war.”

Sobbing her heart out, she said: “Our life has become much better than before. In the past, we grumbled about poverty, conflict and bombings. But thankfully, the war has stopped and security has been restored.”

Fawzia went on to pray: “God forbid all Afghan women from being widowed. I’m forced to knock at ever door and ask for charity.”

As Fawzia spoke to Pajhwok about her wretched existence, the three other women, wearing tattered black headscarves, also stepped in.

She said: “They are also widows. All of them are my cousins, daughters my aunt, paternal and maternal uncles. Their husbands were also martyred in the war and they have to take care of their families.

“Most of the time, we don’t have food in our house. My children cry because of starvation,” remarked a tearful Fawzia.

She continued: “The owner of house knocks at our door at the beginning of every month and asks for rent.”

Zahra, another widow, requested: “Brother! Convey our message to government leaders. No one is more needy and deserving than us. We are 25 people living in this ruined house. I have nine children, two sons and seven daughters. All of us have to beg for survival.”

With the onset of winter in Lashkargah, the resourceless women are unable to buy warm clothing for her children.

Zahra recalled her husband was killed five years ago when he received bullets inside his house. She urged the government to provide them with jobs in the handicraft industry so that they could get rid of begging and earn decent livelihoods.

Maulvi Mohammad Qasim Riaz, deputy director of information and culture, insisted the government provided cash and food aid to helpless women. The prices would continue, he promised.

“The provincial administration helps the needy households, which were given chicken-keeping equipment and sewing machines in a number of districts a few days ago.”

sa/mud

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