Afghanistan after a year under the Taliban
At least 43% of the population lives on less than one meal a day and 97% of Afghans are expected to be living below the poverty line by the end of this year.
The future looks bleak for the vast majority of Afghans.
At least 43% of the population is living on less than one meal a day and 97% of Afghans are expected to be living below the poverty line by the end of this year. Some families have resorted to selling their organs to eat and others have sold their own children in order to survive.
“As global leaders sought to economically isolate the Taliban, their policy approaches have crippled the economy, destroyed the banking sector and plunged the country into a humanitarian catastrophe that has left more than 24 million without enough food to eat each day,” Vicki Aken, Afghanistan director of the International Rescue Committee, said Friday.
The organization added that unless this is addressed, the current humanitarian crisis could lead to more deaths than in 20 years of war.
The Taliban first came to power in the 1990s after the Soviet withdrawal and ensuing civil war. They gained notoriety for publicly beheading convicted murderers and amputating the limbs of thieves. They also forced gender segregation, banned music and compelled men to grow beards.
Rating: 5