By Rahim Gul Sarwan, Anne Ball VOA News June 27, 2024 WASHINGTON — Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan was down sharply last year, according to the United Nations and private sources, but the plants are being grown in most provinces despite a ban imposed by the Taliban. Some areas grow more than others. According to sources
By Sana Kakar and Abubakar Siddique June 25, 2024 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Shahabuddin had a brush with death when floods ripped through his community and washed away his home in northern Afghanistan. Having survived one near-death experience, Shahabuddin soon encountered another foe: disease. “Within 24 hours, I was so weak that I could barely
AP: Pakistani journalist and author Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about Afghanistan and the Taliban, said Akhundzada’s appeals for unity were a sign of desperation because he refused to spell out the real issues facing Afghans such as unemployment, economic development, and building a consensus for social reform. “I would not be convinced
8am: The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report stating that restrictions imposed by the Taliban have hindered thousands of women from accessing healthcare, education, and employment. According to the report, 24 mothers and 167 infants die daily from preventable diseases. The report indicates that 17.9 million people require health assistance, while 9.5 million
Michael Hughes: It was easy to blame the 2021 collapse of the Afghan economy on the abrupt withdrawal of foreign aid after the fall of Kabul, which overnight effectively cut the country’s GDP nearly in half. In fact, even the most advanced economies would take years to heal from the type of blow Afghanistan took
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi and Abubakar Siddique May 29, 2024 An increasing number of Afghans are taking out their money from banks and closing their accounts, a trend spurred by mistrust in the unrecognized Taliban government and concerns about the country’s bleak economic outlook. The Taliban takeover in 2021 triggered a cash and banking crisis.
Ariana: An estimated 6.5 million children in Afghanistan – or nearly three out of ten – will face crisis or emergency levels of hunger this year as the country feels the immediate impacts of floods, the long term effects of drought and the return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran, said Save the Children in
8am: It’s been over a week since the devastating floods hit Ghor province. During this time, the Taliban have made no efforts to clean up Firozkoh City, rescue trapped individuals, or recover belongings from the mud. Consequently, many rural roads remain impassable. Residents, faced with the Taliban’s indifference to relief efforts, have taken matters into
8am: The provinces of Baghlan, Ghor, Badakhshan, and Herat have faced devastating floods, resulting in significant human casualties and extensive financial losses. Flood victims and some citizens of the country accuse the Taliban of mishandling natural disaster victims. They claim that this group lacks the ability and knowledge to manage and provide services, holding the
8am: The source adds, “The increase in corruption among the officials of the [Taliban] emirate has become a tradition, and every individual, even if they hold a minimal position or authority, has enriched themselves through their means. From ministers to local officials at the provincial and district levels, where in my view corruption is more