Widespread poverty and persistent unemployment have severely affected the majority of the citizens of Afghanistan, drastically reducing their purchasing power. Many citizens report that poverty and unemployment have deprived students and university attendees of continuing their education, with numerous families going to bed hungry each night. Over the past three years, the Taliban have not implemented any programs for poverty alleviation, job creation, or service provision for citizens. On the contrary, by imposing heavy taxes and religious levies (Ushr and Zakat), they have made living conditions increasingly difficult. Economic experts assert that the reduction in investments, educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban, and women’s unemployment directly contribute to the rising poverty and unemployment in the country.
Numerous citizens express deep concern over the ongoing unemployment and increasing poverty. They say the lack of job opportunities and the Taliban’s disregard for the dire economic situation has led to group migrations of young people and disheartened them from pursuing further education.
Mohammad, a resident of Ghor province, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that his two children, students in grades 10 and 12, have lost interest in continuing their education. He adds, “I am unemployed and cannot meet their needs, which has discouraged them from continuing their studies.” According to him, his sons are now trying to find work, but no jobs are available, and they will eventually be forced to seek employment illegally going to Iran.
Ali Akbar, a fruit vendor with a handcart in the Tawhidabad area of the central region of Ghazni province, complains about his poor economic situation. He says, “It is the days and nights of Muharram; today, I should have been at the mosque participating in mourning ceremonies. But since I don’t have enough savings to feed my family for a day, I have to stay in the market to earn our daily bread.”
Meanwhile, shopkeepers and traders express concern over the declining purchasing power of people. They say that people have lost the ability to buy necessities and prefer to live in a “subsistence” state.
Hasibullah, a shopkeeper in the province of Kunduz, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that people’s purchasing power has decreased due to widespread poverty and persistent unemployment, causing markets to lose their former vibrancy. According to him, people prefer to avoid buying luxury items and even essential goods, leading to a deteriorating living situation.
Mir Ahmad, a food vendor, also complains about the decline in purchasing power. He says business is down significantly, and if the situation continues, things will become even more difficult. He adds, “Our sales have dropped drastically; people don’t have money to buy enough food. Most of the food I bring to the shop expires and becomes unusable because there are no buyers. Believe me, I come to the shop just to stay busy; otherwise, there’s no profit.”
Meanwhile, Mir Shekib Mir, an economic analyst, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the increase in poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan has multiple reasons. According to him, studies show that since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, factors such as a sharp decrease in market demand and a reduction in domestic investments have directly impacted poverty and unemployment levels.
Mr. Mir explains that educational restrictions, the ban on women’s employment, and reduced international aid compared to the previous government are other factors that have exacerbated persistent poverty and unemployment.
A global organization named World Economics has stated that Afghanistan’s GDP and population data are unreliable. According to the organization, Afghanistan is deemed untrustworthy based on governance indices because the Taliban interfere with economic and demographic data production.
On the other hand, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has said that decades of war in Afghanistan, a predominantly rural population, and increasing vulnerability to climate impacts have made achieving sustainable development goals more urgent than in other countries.
The organization added that poverty has intensified across the country, making sustainable development goals seem more out of reach than ever. According to this organization, in the first 18 months of Taliban rule, economic collapse has driven 97% of Afghanistan’s population into poverty, forcing many families to face severe debt or impossible choices to cover their living expenses.
The World Food Programme, in its latest report, has stated that due to a lack of funds for emergency food aid, 11 million people in need are not receiving assistance, and the organization can only help one million hungry people in Afghanistan.
The organization added that 1.4 million mothers and children in Afghanistan are not receiving nutritious food to prevent malnutrition, while malnutrition rates remain high, and climate change poses many challenges. According to the organization, $617 million is needed to maintain its programs until the end of this year.
Previously, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that 23.7 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance. According to this organization, the extensive restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls have exacerbated poverty and hunger.
These concerns arise as some citizens express worry about the rise of extremism and the recruitment of young people into terrorist organizations due to poverty and unemployment. According to them, the current situation in most areas of the country is dire and unacceptable.
Over the past three years, the Taliban have repeatedly urged people to remain patient, stating that their government is new and will soon address people’s needs. However, the extreme poverty is so severe that some residents are willing to sell their young children to survive. According to the country’s citizens, the Taliban have no plans for job creation or poverty alleviation and are instead preoccupied with “looting and nepotism.”
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
فقر استخوانسوز و گرسنه خوابیدن؛ طالبان برنامهای برای فقرزدایی و اشتغالزایی ندارند | روزنامه ۸صبح
