CNN still fighting for their lives

From Correspondent Anita Pratap

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The war in Afghanistan has wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of people. First, the Soviet Union invaded the country in 1979, engaging the mujahaddin groups in battle. Russia didn't leave until 1989; once its military withdrew, civil war broke out.

The constant fighting has taken its toll throughout the country, decimating what economy the country had. But few have suffered as much as the orphans of this war.

Battles hound the 850 orphans even in a government-run home in Kabul. Twice in the last four years the orphanage had to move when the front lines of the civil war came to its front door.

On one occasion, gunmen looted the orphanage's meager furniture, food stocks and blankets.

Peace came with the Taliban's capture of Kabul, but that brought difficulties of another kind. The Taliban have forbidden women from working, and most of the orphanage's 330 employees are women.

"It's become terribly difficult to run this orphanage without women employees. We are also running out of money because ever since the Taliban came, the banks have been closed," said the institution's administrator.

Unless they are replenished, the institution's food supply will run out by mid-November. Already, the orphans must make do without meat or vegetables.

Keeping the children clean and laundering their clothing is also a problem because women employees cannot report for work. The girls' school was closed after the Taliban banned girls from attending; the boys' school was closed because 85 percent of the teachers are women.

So none of the children are getting an education, and there is too much work for the few women who work secretly.

"The burden is terrible," said one woman. "There were 80 of us to look after these small children. Now there are only four of us."

Desperation drives the women to defy the Taliban. "My condition is even more pitiable than these orphans," another worker secretly said. "I am old and my husband has abandoned me. I need my salary to survive."

Survival is the issue, as the orphanage's stock of fuel and medicine is also dwindling. The orphans also want for basics like warm clothing, shoes, and blankets, as Kabul's harsh winter is setting in.

Some children will find even their rooms provide scant protection from the cold. Previous shelling shattered the windows, and without money the home's administrators can purchase no glass to replace them.

The orphans have survived the war so far, escaping bullets and bombs. It will be as much of a struggle for each child to escape Kabul's sub-zero temperatures.

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