Eighteen-year-old Kafiyah, a resident of Joi-Shala village in Sangin district of Helmand province, survived an airstrike that killed 14 family members. She was the only child who survived the attack.

Her wounds from the bombing were so severe that not only did her limbs fail to grow, according to relatives, but also she lost her mental balance.

“She is a mature girl, but she has lost her consciousness and is mentally unwell,” said Gul Mohammad, Kafiyah’s uncle.

“Fourteen people were martyred in this place and two of my brothers were martyred in the operation,” said Jan Agha, Kafiyah’s uncle.

Kafiyah’s grandfather, who now takes care of her, says that although many years have passed since that event, he still feels the pain.

“I picked her up From the ruins, since then two of my young sons were martyred,” said Abdul Hamid, her grandfather.

Sangin district suffered high casualties in the past 20-year war.