Yalda's Kabul - Afghanistan

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November 2008 Journalist Yalda Hakim returns to her native country of Afghanistan. Here she documents the appalling living standards and the ravages caused by heroin addiction. Both shocking and emotional. Im so fearful. Every day I think, "Will that car in front of me explode?" Welcome to Afghanistans harsh reality. The Taliban are at the door and insecurity is getting worse. But its not the only issue. I became addicted out of misery and frustration. A man sitting outside a derelict building shows Yalda his amputated thigh. Inside, used needles carpet the floor and hang from the ceilings. Heroin is cheaper than alcohol. You've already destroyed our country. Now we eat the poison, the rich and powerful eat the dollars. Later, Yalda visits the only rehab clinic for women and children. When I wasnt smoking, my body was in pain. Gul Pari is only twelve. Shes been addicted for six years. There are many children like her. Despite faint glimmers of hope, their future looks very uncertain. Produced by SBS/Dateline Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

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