Heartbreaking footage shows a young girl being sold by her dad to a white-bearded man in exchange for food in Afghanistan.

Parwana Malik, just nine years old, understood that her parents struggled to provide for her family of eight and resolved the only solution was to be sold to help feeding mouths.

She told CNN: "My father had sold me because we don't have bread, rice and flour. He sold me to an 'old' man."

Months ago, her dad had sold her 12-year-old sister to help the family survive and Parwana now found it was her turn.

"We have eight family members. I have to sell to keep other family members alive," the father said.

Footage shared by CNN shows devastated mum dressing her daughter up as she puts on her own makeup to make herself look attractive before meeting her "husband", who claims to be 55 years old man.

The man greets the parents in the house and gives them 200,000 Afghanis (£1,615) in cash.

"This is your bride, please take care of her. You are responsible now, please don't beat her," the father tells the man while Parwana covers up her face and whimpers as she says goodbye to her family.

The man replies: "Of course I will take care of her."

He takes Parwana's belongings and takes her out of the house but the little girl resists and digs her heels in the dirt as they walk towards the car.

Parwana's situation reflects the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country about two and a half months ago.

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The country's economy is on the brink of collapse and international humanitarian aid has been put on hold, leaving many families with no jobs and no food.

Another girl, 10, spent her days crying as she waited for the day to be sold to a 70-year-old man to help her family pay off their debts, reported Daily Mail.

One nine-member family is preparing to sell their four-year-old and nine-year-old daughters to have enough money for food.

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