Some residents of Kabul say that hunger and poverty have forced them to work on the streets during the freezing winter to earn a piece of bread.
According to them, economic hardships have left them unable to afford food and fuel, and they are appealing to aid organizations for support.
Mohammad Gul, a resident of Kabul, said: “Life is extremely hard. I work in the market and earn 100 to 120 Afghanis daily. Right now, my shoes are wet. If I weren’t forced to, I wouldn’t leave the house at all.”
Nabiullah, another resident of Kabul, said: “I hope traders will help us so that we can buy coal and firewood because we are destitute and helpless.”
While snowfall and rain are pleasant for many citizens of the country, they are not so for those struggling with economic difficulties.
Ajab Gul, one of the many residents of Kabul, says that hunger and poverty have compelled him to polish shoes on the streets during the freezing winter to earn a piece of bread. He described his economic problems as follows: “It’s been three months since we’ve been stuck in one house. There are eight of us living in a single room. I pay 3,500 afghani in rent, but I haven’t been able to pay for three months now. At the moment, we have no firewood, coal, or fuel.”
Mia Jan, another Kabul resident, said: “We haven’t bought any coal or firewood; we haven’t bought anything. I don’t have money to buy anything.”
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has announced that due to a lack of funding, more than seven million people in Afghanistan will be deprived of life-saving assistance this winter.
The Ministry of Economy, however, says that the Islamic Emirate is working to implement major projects to make Afghanistan self-sufficient in various sectors.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy, stated: “The Islamic Emirate is striving for Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency and economic independence. At the same time, we appeal to national and international traders and investors not to forget our people during the winter and to continue helping those in need.”
Poverty is one of the long-standing issues in Afghanistan, caused by various factors, including the 40 years of conflict and climate change. Experts believe that this problem will only be resolved when the level of education in society increases and the government develops a specific plan to address this crisis.
