20 Years: "Winter Is Near”
Part II: Rahela Nayebzadah is an Afghan Canadian Author of Monster Child. Rahela writes a sequel essay from her Globe and Mail Op-Ed which documents her cousin trapped in Taliban-controlled Kabul
20 Years is an independently-run series with contributors documenting Canadian government’s response on Afghanistan and resettlement.
Part I covered Shabnam’s sister stuck in Kabul while Trudeau called an election.
Shabnam’s sister has since safely reached Turkey.
Rahela Nayebzadah is the Author of the novel Monster Child and Jeegareh Ma — based off autobiographical events of her families migration to Canada from Afghanistan. Nayebzadah has a PhD in Faculty of Education from University of British Columbia.
For this guest essay she describes current Taliban reality of her cousin being trapped in Kabul as winter nears, future dangers of economic collapse, and why some Afghans feel unsafe seeking asylum in Pakistan.
The following is a sequel essay from her recent Globe and Mail op-ed: “I may never hear my cousin’s voice again. Will you speak for him and my family in Afghanistan?”
“Listen to our stories. Spread awareness. Pressure those in power to act. That’s what we, as a privileged society here in Canada, can do for the people of Afghanistan – to use our voices, so we can hold tight to theirs.”
- Rahela Nayebzadah on August 18th, 2021.
Winter Is Near: I May Lose My Cousin in Kabul
By: Rahela Nayebzadah
Eight Hazara children have starved to death. Three teachers in Kabul have committed suicide due to poverty. Parents are selling their children to pay off debts. Thousands are left homeless and displaced as the Taliban have stolen their lands. These are only some of the headlines on Afghanistan that appear on a daily basis.
Where’s the humanity? Why has the world fallen silent?
Winter is approaching and Afghans are desperate for shelter and food. Many are fleeing to Pakistan only to find themselves again under Taliban control and poor conditions.
My name is Rahela Nayebzadah. I have family living in Kabul and Herat. It is devastating to hear that my family may soon become homeless.
My cousin and his wife both work for banks in Kabul (his wife works at a woman’s only bank serving only women). It’s been over two months since neither of them have been paid. “I’m running out of cash, and what little cash I had, I gave to my sister because she and her family are really struggling,” my cousin tells me.
However, my cousin is not alone. Many Afghans have been working for free for months.
“The only people who get paid are our bosses, who are all Taliban. They don’t even know how to turn on a computer.
It’s funny because without us, they cannot run a country.
You would think they wouldn’t want to starve us,” says my cousin.
Due to the rise in poverty, crime and violence have further increased in Afghanistan.
Last week, my cousin’s bicycle was stolen. “I found the thieves and I reported them to the Taliban. I’m afraid of what the Taliban might do to them, but my bike is my main source of transportation.”
When I asked my cousin why him and his family won’t flee to Pakistan, he said, “I would rather die in my own country than to be a slave in Pakistan.”
Despite the increase of violence and crime, what scares me the most is the rise of suicide. Afghan people feel betrayed and hopeless—their cries are being ignored and their prayers are left unanswered. My cousin occasionally tells me that he is giving up, and this frightens me.
US intervention is out of the question—President Biden has already declared that American lives are worth more than Afghan lives, and the only Afghan lives worth saving are those who are considered “high risk.”
The classification, “high risk,” is unjust and dangerous. Are not children who are being sold off not considered high risk? It’s been over a month since women are deprived of university education. Is this not considered high risk? And finally, for my cousin, who often speaks of suicide, is his situation not considered high risk?
People in Western countries must understand that before Taliban took over many Afghans did not wish to leave Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is their home—they only dream of peace and a chance at life. As a society, we must continue to put pressure on our political leaders to take action.
Looking to help support Canadian non-profits with Afghan evacuation efforts?
Donate here to Aman Lara.
Taylor Simone is a freelance journalist and film professional crewing for Vancouver’s motion picture industry specializing in conflict resolution, privacy, data, and reporting. Her public and private work has appeared in VICE, Georgia Straight, Arsenal Pulp, Rabble, and others.
She’s dispatched for Supernatural, Riverdale, Batwoman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Nancy Drew, DC Legends, The Flash, Superman & Lois, Firefly Lane, Motherland, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Away, Mighty Ducks, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Adam Project, Yellowjackets, Big Sky, The Stand, The Mother, & dozens more…
Her non-fiction debut book If At First You Don’t Succeed is slated for 2022.
Sig. taylorsimone@protonmail.com
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