RASC News Agency: As Afghanistan enters the third day of Ramadan, the nation is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Soaring inflation, widespread corruption in the distribution of humanitarian aid, and chronic unemployment have pushed millions to the brink of starvation, leaving countless families unable to afford even a simple meal for iftar. The prices of essential food items such as flour, cooking oil, rice, and meat have surged to record highs, making it nearly impossible for low-income households and daily wage earners to secure even the bare minimum for survival. Markets across Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and other cities bear witness to the economic devastation once-bustling bazaars now stand half-empty as helpless citizens merely glance at price tags before walking away empty-handed.
Journalists from RASC News Agency spoke with several residents in Kabul and Herat, all of whom painted a grim picture of their deteriorating financial conditions. Abdul Samad, a daily wage laborer in Kabul, described his plight: “Previously, if I earned 300 kabuli rupees a day, I could at least buy bread and oil. Now, even if I make 1,000 kabuli rupees, it’s barely enough for a single meal. How are we supposed to endure Ramadan like this?” In Herat, Halima, a mother of five, broke down in tears as she told our reporters: “Yesterday, I went to the market to buy food for iftar, but the prices were so high that I couldn’t even afford a kilo of rice. We break our fast with dry bread and water. Is this really how we’re supposed to live?”
Meanwhile, in Mazar-e-Sharif, Rahmatullah, an elderly retiree, struggled to express his despair: “In the past, we could at least break our fast with dates and tea. But now, even dates have become a luxury. I can’t even afford a sack of flour. This poverty is destroying us.” Despite millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance flowing into Afghanistan, much of it fails to reach those who need it most. Investigations by RASC News Agency have revealed that a significant portion of these funds and food supplies are diverted to Taliban fighters, their families, and politically connected individuals leaving ordinary Afghans to fend for themselves.
Obaidullah, a resident of Takhar, shared his frustration: “I have tried multiple times to register for aid, but every time, I was told my name wasn’t on the list. When I checked, I found that most of the recipients were Taliban affiliates.” In Kabul, Zarghona, a widowed mother of four, voiced her outrage: “They told us we need personal connections to receive aid. Do I need political influence just to feed my starving children? The Taliban are taking everything for themselves while leaving us to suffer.” While the Afghanistani people endure hunger, poverty, and economic collapse, the Taliban remain preoccupied with tightening their grip on power, enforcing rigid social restrictions, and stifling press freedom. The regime has no clear economic strategy to combat inflation, create jobs, or address the worsening humanitarian crisis, leaving the nation in a downward spiral.
A financial analyst, who spoke to RASC News Agency on condition of anonymity, warned of an impending catastrophe: “Instead of addressing the country’s economic collapse, the Taliban are focused on repressing freedoms and consolidating control. If this situation persists, Afghanistan will plunge into a full-scale famine.” Ramadan is a time of compassion, generosity, and communal solidarity, yet for millions of Afghanistanis, it has become a month of suffering and hopelessness. Families that once shared abundant iftar meals now struggle to find even a morsel of bread.
With corruption tainting aid distribution, inflation rendering basic necessities unaffordable, and a regime more focused on suppression than governance, Afghanistan stands at a perilous crossroads. Will the international community intervene to alleviate the suffering of Afghanistan’s starving population? Or will they remain silent as an entire nation is crushed under the weight of poverty, oppression, and neglect?
