Feature: Afghans struggle with hunger amid economic slump

KABUL, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) — As the world will mark World Food Day on Wednesday, millions of Afghans continue to face the grim reality of hunger. For many in Afghanistan, where poverty is widespread, obtaining even a simple loaf of bread has become an exhausting challenge.
Decades of war, displacement, prolonged droughts, high unemployment, and an economic collapse following U.S. sanctions on Afghan assets, have all contributed to the country’s severe food shortages.
Sameer, an 18-year-old street vendor in Kabul, noted that the economic situation has worsened significantly. “We eat potatoes, rice, and okra for every meal. We used to cook meat before, but now we can’t afford it,” he said.
“Job opportunities have decreased,” Sameer added. “In the past, I earned around 4,000 to 5,000 afghani (about 59 to 73 U.S. dollars) a day, but now, with fewer jobs, we make much less.”
The dire situation has forced millions of Afghans, including children and young people like Sameer, to leave their homes and abandon their education. “We haven’t received any humanitarian aid, either from local or international organizations,” said Sameer, the sole breadwinner for his 19-member family.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme, in Afghanistan, one in four people is facing starvation. In a recent post on social media, the agency highlighted the growing food insecurity across the country.
Mawlawi Mudassir Hamraz, spokesperson for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, emphasized the critical need for international support. “Global donors have drastically reduced humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, even as demand for help continues to rise,” he said. “Afghanistan is far from self-sufficient, with 70 percent of the population requiring humanitarian assistance.”
The agency data from September indicates that over 12 million people in Afghanistan are unsure where their next meal will come from.
“After 30 or 40 years of war, people have been displaced, their homes destroyed. Afghans need more assistance as they continue to live in poverty and hardship,” Hamraz added.
Hassan Ali, owner of a bakery in Kabul, described the economic slump in simple terms: many Afghans are unable to meet their basic needs. “We used to bake 400 to 450 kilograms of flour into bread each day, but now it’s down to 250 or 300 kilograms,” said Ali.
Earlier, international organizations, including the agency, repeatedly called on global donors to increase both cash and in-kind aid to Afghanistan.
“People are impoverished. Many can’t even afford a loaf of bread, which costs just 10 afghani (about 0.15 dollars),” Ali added.
According to a World Bank document, Afghanistan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 26 percent over the last two fiscal years. Meanwhile, inflation is expected to stay at between 6 percent and 10 percent in 2024 and 2025, driving further poverty. High unemployment is also likely to persist due to limited job and business opportunities. ■