Economic Crisis Deepens in Afghanistan as Food Prices Soar

The rising cost of food and the blockage of trade routes are causing severe difficulties for Afghan families in meeting their basic needs. The economic situation has worsened, a fact that international organizations have also highlighted.

Food Price Surge Cuts Family Purchasing Power

The unprecedented increase in food prices in Afghanistan is putting significant pressure on families, drastically reducing their purchasing power. Prominent global institutions have confirmed this troubling state with alarming data.

According to a recent report presented to the UN Security Council by the UN Secretary-General, the national inflation rate reached 7.8 percent in the month of Saratan, while food inflation hit 8.2 percent. Additionally, the World Bank reported that the inflation rate for the month of Hamal was 7.6 percent.

Families Complain About Rising Living Costs and Decreased Purchasing Power

The World Food Programme has reported a worsening hunger crisis in Afghanistan, indicating that approximately 13.8 million people face severe food insecurity. Economists attribute the rising transit costs and food supply chain issues to the blockage of trade borders and political tensions.

Azarakhsh Hafizi, an economic expert, notes that Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on imports means that political fluctuations and port blockages quickly impact local markets. This situation, combined with inadequate income, leads to the collapse of the middle class and exacerbates overall poverty.

Household Complaints About Price Increases

Mojgan, the breadwinner of a family of seven, has expressed her frustration over the price hike of a bag of flour from 1,200 to 1,800 Afghanis and sugar now costing nearly 80 Afghanis. She says that to meet her family’s basic needs, she has had to eliminate meat and chicken from their diet.

In Logar, Gholthum, a mother of eight, struggles to purchase protein-rich foods due to unemployment and economic difficulties, and has had to rely solely on inexpensive vegetables. Haidar, a government employee in Ghazni, reports that the prices of goods have sharply increased, forcing him to cut back on his family’s food budget to cover his children’s education expenses.

Political Tensions and Border Blockages Fuel Food Crisis in Afghanistan

This economic crisis is also impacting businesses, with several shopkeepers in Kabul’s Mandawi, including Khyber, reporting a significant drop in cash sales and an increase in credit transactions and small trades. Despite the deepening crisis, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has remained silent regarding measures being taken to control prices and oversee the market.