Update on Afghanistan

A year ago, hijackers crashed three aeroplanes into important buildings in the USA. Thousands of people were killed. USA forces then attacked Afghanistan, believing that the government there was hiding the people who organised the crashes.

Some people say that the world changed forever on 11 September. But what do the children of Afghanistan think?
'I pretended I was a boy'

Yalda, 12, was one of the few girls who were going to school in Afghanistan a year ago. The government then, called the Taliban, was very strict. Women were not allowed to work or to move around freely, and girls weren't allowed to go to school. But Yalda had a simple plan – she cut her hair and went to school with the boys!

'No one at school knew that I was a girl – I wore trousers and a cap,' says Yalda. 'Not even the other boys knew! We were very happy when the Americans bombed Afghanistan, because they made the Taliban go,' she says. 'Now, all girls can go to school.'

'My home was destroyed'

Abdel, 10, has lost his home since September 11. Afghanistan was bombed, and the leaders of the Taliban government ran away. This led to fighting between different groups of people that wanted to take control of the country. Abdel's home and village were destroyed. Now Abdel lives in another part of Afghanistan where his family is safe – but very poor. He is not happy there, and would like to go home. But he knows he has no home to go to.

Every morning Abdel and his brothers and sisters have just one piece of bread each, to last them all day. 'I have a third for breakfast, a third for lunch and a third for dinner' he says. 'I start lunch hungry and I finish hungry.'

Click here to find out why Abdel is learning about landmines

 

Yalda at school
Christian Aid/Elaine Duigenan

Yalda (in the middle) at school

Abdel
Christian Aid/Elaine Duigenan

Abdel