On the outskirts of Herat in western Afghanistan, one settlement drew international attention in 2022 after reports emerged that many residents had sold a kidney to survive deepening poverty and hunger. The area became widely known as the “one-kidney village,” a grim reflection of the humanitarian crisis that followed Afghanistan’s economic collapse after the Taliban returned to power. Families described selling organs to pay debts, buy food or cover medical expenses as international aid declined and unemployment surged across the country.
