The Afghan village of widows...

On the map the small village 75 kilometres south of Herat city is called Mir Ali, but locally it is known as the “village of widows”, because in its narrow, dusty streets there are few able-bodied men to be seen.

Instead, women struggle alone to provide for their families after their husbands, sons, or brothers have disappeared, either dead or in prison, because of the booming drugs trade with neighbouring Iran.
Eqlima is supporting a family of 14 single-handedly after losing her two sons in the drug wars. Her shoulder is paralysed because of the hard work she does, but she has no choice. She used to have a house and some land to grow vegetables on. “Now my children can’t even go to school,” she said. “They are busy all day helping me out.” More...

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