Thousands of young orphaned Afghans, who lost either their fathers or both parents in the conflict- plagued country, are forced to do odd jobs in order to help support their families.

Young Afghan boys are seen washing cars, shining shoes, carrying bags of customers in marketplaces and shopping malls.

Nine-year-old Abdul Wakil helps support his family by selling shopping bags in a vegetable market.

"I am in second grade of a primary school and since it is winter vacation, I work by selling shopping bags to earn some money," Abdul said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He can sell 40 to 50 shopping bags of different sizes each day, Abdul said, adding, "I can earn around 250 to 300 Afghanis every day to support my family." At present, the exchange rate of 1 U.S. dollar is around 58 Afghanis.

"In the evening, when I return home, I give a bigger part of my earnings to my mother for the family expenses and I keep a small amount for my school needs when classes resume," he said.

Abdul's mother has to stay at home to care for her three other young children.

Abdul said he lost his father two years ago and since then he has been doing odd jobs, including selling shopping bags. He said it is an easy job and needs a little capital, while refusing to reveal the cause of his father's death.

In conflict-ridden Afghanistan, thousands of breadwinners have been killed as a result of the continuing violence in the country. Some of these men are either killed by suicide attacks or caught in the crossfire between the armed militants and government forces.

On average some 10 to 15 people, that include combatants and innocent civilians, are killed or maimed every day due to the ongoing conflict and militancy in Afghanistan, according to media reports.

Because of deep tradition and Islamic values, women in Afghanistan rarely work outside their homes and the burden of supporting the family is left to the men. Although the status of Afghan women has tremendously improved for the past 13 years, unemployment remains a huge problem in the country that has prevented women from seeking a job.

Abdul's friend, Fawad, also an orphan, is also selling shopping bags.

Fawad said that he sells shopping bags because at his age, he could not work as a porter, mason or carpenter. He said it is easy to sell shopping bags because market-goers need them. Endi

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