ISLAMABAD: As the holy month of Ramadan begins, families in Afghanistan are facing a tough time with the economy in shambles and food prices skyrocketing. Most adult Afghans are jobless, and the UN estimates that 28 million people, or nearly 70 percent of the population, now depend on aid to survive. However, aid operations have been limited since major international organizations have stopped their operations in Afghanistan under the new Taliban rulers.
The situation has forced many families to resort to desperate measures to buy food, with many surviving only on bread and tea. In the past, families would prepare iftar and sahoor for themselves, security personnel, and those living around them. But now, the mood is somber in Afghan households as families struggle to put food on the table.
A former rights activist and head of a kindergarten organization in Kabul, Shamsia Hassanzada, said, “In the past, we used to prepare iftar and sahoor not just for ourselves but also for security forces and those living around us, but now we have nothing at all, only green tea and dry bread.” She added, “Our five family members, including me, used to work, but now only one person is working, and his income is not enough to meet our needs.”
Mohammad Naeem, a resident of Kabul city who used to work as a driver for the Ministry of Defense under the previous administration, said that since the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan in 2021, the country has been safer and more peaceful, but the economic situation has not left much room to rejoice. He said, “Believe me, I did not make a single piece of clothing for myself in the last two years because of many economic problems at home.” He added, “If I eat meat, it is somewhere at a charity organization, but I cannot buy meat at the market for my family.”
Focus on helping others during Ramadan
Fasting and charity are among the five key obligations of Islam, and during Ramadan, there is a strong focus on helping others. However, that is hardly possible when families have to fend for themselves. Karishma Nazari, a women’s rights activist, said, “Keeping the fast for the whole day and then having nothing for iftar and sahoor is so hard and painful for me and for most Afghan families…Most of us have nothing except green tea.”
Sayed Omar, who used to work for the previous administration in Kabul, has been taking odd jobs for the past two years to keep his nine family members afloat. However, he said it’s hard to extend charitable deeds to others when he struggles to support his family. “It’s very difficult to support my family,” he said. “In the past, we had enough food for both iftar and sahoor, even we were sharing our food with our neighbors, but now I’m entirely preoccupied with my family.”
The situation in Afghanistan is dire, and with the Taliban in power, many fear it will only get worse. As families try to survive on bread and tea, the international community must provide aid to those in need. Ramadan is a time of celebration and unity, but for many families in Afghanistan, it’s a time of struggle and hardship.
