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Alarming Surge: Suicide Cases Reach Disturbing Levels in the Past Two Months

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Muhammad Jawad
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 Image showing  the alarming increase in suicide rates in Afghanistan. <br> Image Credit: Social media

The combination of poverty, destitution, Taliban restrictions, persistent unemployment, and an uncertain future has driven many citizens in Afghanistan to the brink of despair. Tragically, some individuals have chosen to take their own lives as a result. Recent suicide rates present a somber picture, with 120 voluntary suicides recorded over the past 14 months. According to the latest statistics from news report , 25 individuals ended their lives between the 27th of April and the 29th of May this year. Moreover, during the month of Hamal (March-April) alone, 16 individuals succumbed to suicide. These figures highlight that in the past month alone, 13 women and 12 men made the heartbreaking decision to permanently end their lives. They were overwhelmed by poverty, deprivation, domestic violence, and the mental toll of unemployment and imposed restrictions. When comparing the statistics for the first two months of this year to the previous year, there has been a significant increase, with 41 reported suicides in the country.

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Although it is possible that the actual number of suicides among men and women in the capital and provinces of the country during the past month is higher, the figures reported by news channel are based on reliable sources. This report provides a breakdown by gender. Ghor, Faryab, Ghazni, and Nangarhar provinces have witnessed the highest incidence of suicide cases in the past month, primarily among young individuals. The average age range of those who have chosen to end their lives is between 20 and 30 years old.

Disturbing Increase in Women's Suicides during the Month of Sawr (April-May)

In the month of Sawr (April-May), a 15-year-old girl named Nooriya tragically ended her own life in the Dawlat Yar district of Ghor province. While the exact reasons behind her decision remain unknown, poverty and domestic violence have been identified as common factors contributing to suicides among women and girls in this province.

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Another devastating incident occurred on Saturday night, May 20, in Kandahar province, where a woman named Zarina, aged 22, took her own life. Zarina resided in the Gumbadi area, falling under the fourth division of the Spin Boldak district. Her husband claimed she had been struggling with psychological problems.

Faryab province has experienced the highest number of suicide cases in the past year. Within a 24-hour period on Monday, May 15, two women tragically took their own lives in this province. A 19-year-old young woman residing in the village of Koh-e Sayyad, Sherin Tagaab district, ingested rat poison as a means to end her life, reportedly due to domestic violence. Similarly, in the Bilchiragh district of Faryab province, a 16-year-old girl named Mahbooba hanged herself, with family violence identified as the cause.

Reported incidents also highlight a distressing case in Faryab province on Friday, May 12, where a young girl ingested rat poison and ended her life. Domestic violence was cited as the reason for her suicide. The tragic incident occurred in the fourth division of Maimana City, the provincial capital.

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In the aftermath of the Taliban's control over the country, women face numerous challenges. Some women resort to suicide due to factors such as poverty, lack of social support, the imposition of restrictive Taliban measures, and the enforcement of strict laws that reinforce male dominance. Reflecting this pattern, a 30-year-old woman hanged herself in the village of Badam Ali in Kapisa province on Thursday, April 27, at approximately 9:00 AM. While the exact motive behind her tragic act remains unclear, previous instances of violence stemming from Taliban policies and their influence on the behavior of male family members have been identified as contributing factors to women's suicides.

According to the incidents reported in the news channel, another woman in Faryab province took her own life on Thursday, April 27. The woman, aged 56, hanged herself in the Qurghan district of the province, with domestic violence identified as the cause of her suicide .

Recent Suicides Highlight Tragic Circumstances Faced by Women in Various Afghan Provinces

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The incidents reported in the news channel shed light on the distressing reality faced by women in different provinces of Afghanistan. In Ghazni province, a woman residing in the sixth security division of Ghazni City tragically took her own life due to poverty. She ended her life in the Nowabad area on Monday morning, May 22. With her husband unemployed and having recently gone to Iran, she was left with four children to care for.

In the Jaghori district of Ghazni province, the body of a female nurse was discovered by Taliban authorities. Visible signs of strangulation were found on her neck. The body was found in the Ghojor area of the district before noon on Tuesday, May 16, and has been sent for forensic investigation.

On Thursday, May 25, a young girl hanged herself in the village of Panah in the Giro district of Ghazni province. The reason for her suicide has not been clarified, but the province has witnessed an increase in suicide rates, particularly among women, in recent days.

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In Ghor province, a 15-year-old girl tragically ended her life in the village of Sangqushqa, Dawlat Yar district, on Thursday, May 25. Although the motive behind her suicide remains unclear, it is known that factors such as poverty and forced marriages contribute to suicides among women in the province.

Another heartbreaking incident occurred on Friday, May 26, in the village of Kaftar Ali, Yangi Qala district of Takhar province. A 20-year-old girl named Tahira consumed poison to end her life due to family violence and conflicts with her husband's family. Tahira had been married for seven months and was four months pregnant at the time.

On May 29, a young girl in the Shorabak area of the third district of Faizabad City, the capital of Badakhshan province, tragically took her own life by throwing herself into the Kokcha River. Local sources indicate that family violence led to this devastating outcome.

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Alarming Rise in Men's Suicides: A Grim Reality in Afghanistan

On Monday night, May 22, in the Qala-e Hashmat Khan area of Kabul City, a man named Zumar tragically took his own life. Witnesses reported that he had gone to the market to borrow food for his family. However, facing rejection from the shopkeepers, he made the devastating decision to end his life that same night.

In the Gazestan area of Jawand district, Badghis province, a 19-year-old young man committed suicide by shooting himself on Monday, May 15. Family problems are believed to be the underlying cause of his suicide. Badghis province has witnessed previous cases of suicide driven by poverty and unemployment.

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According to the recorded events in the news report, a young man named Jalalzai hanged himself from a tree in a garden in the village of Hasan, Gilan district, Badghis province on Tuesday, May 9. The Taliban, in a press release, attributed his suicide to a verbal altercation with his father.

A 24-year-old man from Chahar Dah-e Salar village in Saydabad district, Maidan Wardak province, took his own life by hanging on Monday, May 8. The motive behind his suicide remains unclear, according to sources.

In the Muqur district of Ghazni province, a man tragically ended his life by throwing himself under the tires of a freight truck. Local sources indicate that this incident occurred on Friday, May 5, on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. In a press release, the Taliban authorities in Ghazni province claimed that the man committed suicide due to dissatisfaction with his engagement with a young girl. They also mentioned his previous attempts at suicide, which were thwarted by others.

Reported incidents in the news channel also highlight the suicide of a man named Abdul Ahad in the Yangi Qala district of Takhar province. Abdul Ahad, aged 70, used a locally made rifle to shoot himself on Thursday, May 4. It is believed that his mental health issues played a significant role in his tragic decision.

The compiled statistics and figures on suicide from the news report reveal the tragic suicide of Rahimdad, a 55-year-old man who shot himself on Tuesday, May 2, in Muhmand Dara district, Nangarhar province. Sources attribute Rahimdad's suicide to economic problems, although the Taliban claimed it was due to psychological issues.

In Kapisa province, a 13-year-old boy named Abdul Wahid took his own life. He used a hunting rifle to shoot himself on Sunday, April 30, in the village of "Deh Bulbul Olya" in the "Hesa-e Dowom" district of Kapisa province. The motive behind his suicide remains unknown, but poverty and destitution have been identified as contributing factors in suicide cases in the province.

According to the recorded events in the news report, a young man named Arif committed suicide by shooting himself in the Shadal area of Spin Ghar district, Nangarhar province, around 10:00 PM on Friday night. Additionally, another young man named Mohammad Jan ended his life in the Khwaja Roshnayi village of the Foladi area in Bamyan province on Monday night, April 24. The reasons for these incidents are not yet clear, but severe poverty has been cited as a factor in previous suicide cases in the province.

In the past month, there have been distressing cases of suicide involving children. One such case involved a 15-year-old boy who took his own life in Badakhshan province. Local sources reported that he ended his life on Monday, May 22, in the fifth division of Faizabad City, the capital of Badakhshan. The exact reason for his suicide is yet to be determined.

Poverty and destitution have long plagued the citizens of the country. Recently, a man named Abdullah in the Khwaja Murad area of Tulak district, Ghor province, tragically took his own life due to poverty and economic problems. He ended his life on Tuesday night, May 23.

Adding to the series of tragic suicide incidents, a man in the village of Khan, Rodat district of Nangarhar province, made the heartbreaking decision to take his own life. According to sources, on Wednesday, May 24, he ended his life by throwing himself into a river. The underlying cause of his suicide was severe economic problems, further highlighting the distress faced by individuals in the country.

A recent report by the news channel reveals that during the current month of Hamal (March-April), a total of 16 individuals in the country have tragically chosen to end their lives for various reasons. When combined with the previous report, the total number of suicides in various provinces over the past two months reaches 37. These figures reflect a significant increase compared to the same period last year, where a total of 79 individuals, including 41 women and 38 men , took their own lives. However, it is important to note that these numbers, compiled by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, may not capture the full extent of the issue, as unreported cases could be higher.

Suicide is a global phenomenon, and in Afghanistan, it is primarily attributed to the hardships of poverty and violence. The country has witnessed a surge in suicide rates following the implementation of strict Taliban policies and prohibitions. Moreover, the collapse of the Republic regime has resulted in mass job losses as people from various social classes have fled the country. Afghanistan is currently facing the world's most significant humanitarian and economic crisis, as recognized by the United Nations.

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