Afghan brides are seen during a mass marriage ...
AP - Monday, August 18 05:57 am Afghan brides are seen during a mass marriage in the city of Herat, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. For the first time in Afghanistan, 50 Afghan men and women had public weddings at a government hall with support of a nongovernmental organization called Comfort Aid International, which paid about $30,000 for the weddings. (AP Photo/Fraidoon Pooyaa)

Better than selling the girls?

'In the meantime, we have a growing problem of unmarried girls that require our immediate attention. I have copied an article from the BBC here for you to read and perhaps get a sense of what desperate measures people take out of desperation. I do not want any of our girls to be sold off in marriage for money or to even contemplate any haraam acts for money and food for their families. CAI will, insha'Allah, participate in mass marriage program for those girls that have qualified for assistance through the ulemaa committees in Mazar Shariff and Herat on August 18 and 21.

We have over 250 such candidates and 150 have already been sponsored, so we have a deficit of about 100 to go. At about $600 a girl, it becomes a tall order but not if we act collectively. I appeal to you all, please consider this investment very seriously and extend a helping hand if you can. Time is very short for me to arrange all that is required (remember, this is Afghanistan) so please pledge now; you can pay closer to the actual dates. However, I must know how many we can help on an urgent basis.'

Source- http://www.comfortaid.org/other.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7465730.stm