Afghan Father of 58 Children Expands Family Despite Severe Poverty: "Sometimes They Go to Bed Hungry"

Kabul:

In an account highlighting the compounding humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, a man who has fathered over 70 children across four marriages continues to expand his family, despite being unable to provide them with basic sustenance and shelter.

According to a report by BBC Global Women, Muhammad Sadeq currently has 58 surviving children, with the youngest infant being just three months old. The family resides in extreme deprivation, living in unfinished mud dwellings lacking doors and window panes. Thin fabric curtains serve as barriers against the elements, and scrap paper is burned for cooking fuel due to their inability to afford firewood. The children frequently go without food, and many walk barefoot without footwear.

Meager Commission-Based Income

Sadeq earns an income through a car dealership, receiving a commission of 1,000 Afghanis (approximately $15) for every vehicle sold. As the household's sole revenue stream, these intermittent earnings fall significantly short of covering essential nutritional and medical needs for his dozens of dependents.

Speaking to the BBC, Sadeq admitted that the sheer size of the household makes remembering their names impossible. "I cannot remember all their names. Most of the time, I simply call them 'son' or 'child,'" he stated, conceding that he has been unable to fulfill his responsibilities as a provider.

Child Marriage and High Infant Mortality

Sadeq disclosed that all four of his wives entered into marriage at a very young age—a pervasive issue across the region. He linked the deaths of several of his children in infancy to their young mothers' lack of knowledge regarding infant care, feeding, and medical attention.

"I married my wives when they were young. Many of my children died because their mothers were very young. They did not know how to care for the children, breastfeed them, or look after them. Some of my children died from tuberculosis, whooping cough, and measles," he explained.

While expressing regret that his offspring face daily hunger, Sadeq did not clarify why he continued having children despite chronic economic hardship.

Wider Humanitarian Crisis

The family's plight mirrors Afghanistan's broader socioeconomic collapse. United Nations assessments indicate that three out of every four Afghan citizens cannot meet basic survival needs. Child marriage also remains deeply entrenched, with UNICEF data indicating that over four million women aged 20 to 24 in the country were married before reaching adulthood.