RASC News Agency: Certain residents in Ghor province, situated in western Afghanistan, voice grievances concerning the escalating presence of beggars in urban areas, underscoring the apparent indifference of Taliban authorities to this matter. Hakim, a Ghor province resident, conveyed to a RASC reporter on Saturday, December 23rd, that factors such as poverty and unemployment compel certain families to resort to begging. According to him, under these circumstances, the number of beggars has surged by 90% compared to the previous year.
He contends that the majority of those turning to begging are women and children, a situation causing profound concern among the populace of Ghor province. Hakim further expounds on how economic challenges and the dearth of employment opportunities for family breadwinners have marginalized them, inflicting substantial mental and psychological distress. Concurrently, Rasoul Sharifi, another Ghor province resident, informs RASC that no one willingly opts for begging as a means of sustenance, and the abnormal times have coerced people into this predicament.
He adds that numerous families have resorted to begging to meet their daily expenses. In his opinion, if the economic plight persists, it will yield adverse consequences for both the citizenry and the Taliban group. Fariba, a 28-year-old facing economic challenges, has turned to begging and informs a RASC reporter that seven people inhabit her household, four of them being children. She continues, expressing fatigue from the current situation and asserts that if not for the necessities of life, she would never contemplate resorting to begging.
She adds, “Senior Taliban authorities should institute assistance programs for families grappling with the direst conditions to confront the challenges that have arisen.” Conversely, Taliban officials have proclaimed that the initiation of development projects in Afghanistan will provide employment opportunities for many individuals. It is noteworthy that, according to certain shopkeepers interviewed by a RASC reporter, the number of beggars has reportedly surpassed their customer count.
