KABUL, March 2 (Xinhua) -- As Ramadan begins, Afghans are grappling with severe economic challenges exacerbated by ongoing U.S. sanctions.
Abdul Matin, a Kabul resident, visited the local market with his two teenage sons to buy Ramadan essentials. However, soaring prices and his limited income made it difficult to afford even basic food items.
"Today, I came to the market to buy a small amount of food for Ramadan, such as cheese, dates, and cream, but we don't have enough money to buy much," Matin told Xinhua.
As the sole breadwinner for his family of eight, Matin works as a baker in Kabul and struggles to find affordable options to feed his family.
"I believe if the U.S. sanctions are lifted, money will flow freely, people can work without restrictions, and the economy will improve," he said with sorrow.
The country is facing a financial crisis marked by widespread hunger, deepening poverty, and a critical shortage of job opportunities. Despite the hardships, Ramadan remains a time of solidarity and unity for many following Islamic beliefs.
In Afghan culture, purchasing dates, dairy products, and sweets is a common Ramadan tradition. However, this year, people are struggling.
Fazil, a date seller from Parwan province, travels to Kabul each year for Ramadan to sell his goods. This year, however, his sales have plummeted.
"In the past, I sold 80 to 100 kg of dates daily. Now, I'm lucky to sell 20 to 30 kg. The market is down," Fazil explained.
Standing beside his handcart in a busy part of Kabul, Fazil waited for customers.
"Previously, a kilogram of dates cost 100 Afghanis (about $1.50), but now the price has risen to 150 Afghanis ($2). I used to serve up to 100 customers a day, but now I barely reach 30," he said.
Meanwhile, Nematullah, a 24-year-old shoe seller in Kabul, browsed the market hesitantly.
"I can't decide what to buy today. Maybe I'll just get a little cheese, cream, and milk for my family's fast-breaking meal," he said.
Nematullah's shoe business has also suffered. "There's been no work in the last one or two months. People's finances are weak, and they can't afford to buy shoes," he explained.
On the day the Taliban took over the Afghan capital city of Kabul, the U.S. government quickly froze nearly 9.5 billion U.S. dollars in national foreign exchange assets held in the United States by the Afghan central bank, which pushed the financial and bank payment system in Afghanistan almost to the brink of collapse.
Recent reports indicate that approximately 50 aid organizations have halted operations in Afghanistan after the suspension of U.S. humanitarian aid since Jan. 20, further straining an already vulnerable Afghan population. ■
