Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the prime minister of the Islamic Emirate, in a cabinet meeting asked the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the ICRC office to investigate the growing number of beggars in Kabul and to find solutions to address the issue.
According to Kabul residents, these days few roads can seen in the city without beggars.
“The cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in its 31st session ordered various agencies to address the problem of poverty and unemployment, especially the increase in begging in Kabul. They were asked to present a comprehensive plan and implement it as soon as possible,” said Inamullah Samangani, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
Saida, a 50-year-old woman, said she is begging to earn a piece of bread for her family of 11 members.
“I have seven children. My mother-in-law and father-in-law are living with me. We have no breadwinner and my sister-in-law also lives with us. She is disabled,” Sadia said.
“We have nothing at home. When I collect money from begging, I buy a piece of bread for my family. My sisters are starving,” said a child who is begging on a Kabul street.
Analysts said the main reason for the increase in the number of beggars is the rise in poverty in the country that occurred after the political changes last August.
“Households’ economic situation are moving toward absolute poverty, and the level of poverty is increasing,” said Shakir Yaghoubi, an analyst.
This comes as many private businesses have halted operations following the regime change in the country in August 2021.
Meanwhile, Jamila, 50, is the mother of an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier, Noor Mohammad, who was killed during a Taliban ambush while returning home from duty to the Sar-e-Qala area of Chaparhar district in Nangarhar province.
Noor Mohammad’s mother is now selling books on the streets of Jalalabad city to feed her family.
“My son sacrificed his life while defending the country, but I didn’t give up and now I am selling books to provide food for my family,” said Jamila, who works despite the summer heatwave.
Noor Mohammad was 28-years-old and he was killed by the Taliban six years ago. He was the only breadwinner for his family.
He has left a widow and four children behind.
“I want to call on the Taliban to agree to peace with us, make peace with us so that the country is developed. We do not want war, we do not want the US and the Russians,” said Jamila.
“I want my son to go to school, we do not have anything at home, my son is sick, we don’t have money to buy medicine,” said Fatima, the widow of Noor Mohammad.
Noor Mohammad’s mother said that no one from the government reached out to offer help.
“No one is there to inquire about them, they are in misery,” said Mohammad Zaman, a relative of Jamila.—Tolonews
