Jobs lost, Middle Class Afghans Becoming Poor, Hungry
2021-11-29
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1In just a few months, Afghanistan's economy has collapsed.
2Many formerly secure families are now in fear of how they will pay for food.
3This is one reason the United Nations is calling attention to a hunger crisis.
4Of the 38 million people, 22 percent are nearly foodless already and 36 percent are facing immediate danger from food insecurity.
5This is mainly because people do not have enough money for food.
6The economy was already in trouble under the former government.
7It often could not pay its workers.
8The situation was worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and by a drought that increased food prices.
9By 2020, nearly half of Afghanistan's population was considered poor.
10After the August 15 Taliban takeover, other countries stopped sending money to Afghanistan.
11This hurt the country's already small middle class.
12The money sent by foreign governments once paid for much of Afghanistan's government spending.
13Without it, the Taliban has been unable to pay government workers or provide public services.
14International aid also paid for projects around the country that provided jobs, most of which are now stopped.
15The country's banks are cut off from the international banking system, hurting the private economy.
16The country's total economy is estimated to have decreased by 40 percent in just three months.
17Hospitals are seeing increasing numbers of starving children,
18mostly from the country's poorest families who were already insecure.
19Now formerly financially secure families are finding themselves with nothing and must find ways to pay for food, housing, and medical needs.
20Not long ago, Ferishta Salihi and her family had enough for a good life.
21Her husband was working and was paid well.
22She could send several of her daughters to private schools.
23Then her husband lost his job after the Taliban takeover.
24She lined up to register for food and money from the U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP) just to survive.
25"We have lost everything. We've lost our minds," Salihi said after her registration was complete.
26She had to take her 17-year-old daughter Fatima out of school.
27She does not have the money to pay for private schooling, and the Taliban is not permitting older girls to go to public school.
28"I don't want anything for myself, I just want my children to get an education," Salihi said.
29The United States and other international donors are sending money to Afghanistan for humanitarian aid through U.N. agencies.
30This guarantees the money does not go to the Taliban government.
31U.N. agencies and the World Health Organization are working to pay heath care workers to keep the health system from collapsing.
32U.N. agencies are also providing money and food for families to provide some security.
33The WFP has already had to greatly increase the program.
34In 2020, it provided aid to 9 million people, up from the year before.
35So far this year, that number has risen to nearly 14 million.
36It has greatly increased since August.
37Next year, the agency hopes to provide for more than 23 million people.
38It says it needs $220 million a month to do so.
39Shelley Thakral is the WFP spokesperson for Afghanistan.
40She said it is not just the very poorest who need help.
41There is a new group of people in cities who up until the summer have been making money "
42... and now are facing hunger for the first time," she said.
43She added, "People are now having to scavenge for food,
44 they're skipping meals and mothers are forced to reduce portions of food."
45I'm Gregory Stachel.
1In just a few months, Afghanistan's economy has collapsed. Many formerly secure families are now in fear of how they will pay for food. This is one reason the United Nations is calling attention to a hunger crisis. 2Of the 38 million people, 22 percent are nearly foodless already and 36 percent are facing immediate danger from food insecurity. This is mainly because people do not have enough money for food. 3The economy was already in trouble under the former government. It often could not pay its workers. The situation was worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and by a drought that increased food prices. By 2020, nearly half of Afghanistan's population was considered poor. 4After the August 15 Taliban takeover, other countries stopped sending money to Afghanistan. This hurt the country's already small middle class. The money sent by foreign governments once paid for much of Afghanistan's government spending. Without it, the Taliban has been unable to pay government workers or provide public services. 5International aid also paid for projects around the country that provided jobs, most of which are now stopped. The country's banks are cut off from the international banking system, hurting the private economy. The country's total economy is estimated to have decreased by 40 percent in just three months. 6Hospitals are seeing increasing numbers of starving children, mostly from the country's poorest families who were already insecure. 7Now formerly financially secure families are finding themselves with nothing and must find ways to pay for food, housing, and medical needs. 8Not long ago, Ferishta Salihi and her family had enough for a good life. Her husband was working and was paid well. She could send several of her daughters to private schools. 9Then her husband lost his job after the Taliban takeover. She lined up to register for food and money from the U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP) just to survive. 10"We have lost everything. We've lost our minds," Salihi said after her registration was complete. She had to take her 17-year-old daughter Fatima out of school. She does not have the money to pay for private schooling, and the Taliban is not permitting older girls to go to public school. 11"I don't want anything for myself, I just want my children to get an education," Salihi said. 12The United States and other international donors are sending money to Afghanistan for humanitarian aid through U.N. agencies. This guarantees the money does not go to the Taliban government. 13U.N. agencies and the World Health Organization are working to pay heath care workers to keep the health system from collapsing. U.N. agencies are also providing money and food for families to provide some security. 14The WFP has already had to greatly increase the program. In 2020, it provided aid to 9 million people, up from the year before. So far this year, that number has risen to nearly 14 million. It has greatly increased since August. Next year, the agency hopes to provide for more than 23 million people. It says it needs $220 million a month to do so. 15Shelley Thakral is the WFP spokesperson for Afghanistan. She said it is not just the very poorest who need help. There is a new group of people in cities who up until the summer have been making money "... and now are facing hunger for the first time," she said. 16She added, "People are now having to scavenge for food, they're skipping meals and mothers are forced to reduce portions of food." 17I'm Gregory Stachel. 18Lee Keath reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 19_________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain 22humanitarian - adj. help or money given to people or countries, in order to improve living conditions 23scavenge - v. to search for food to eat 24skip - v. to not do (something that is usual or expected) 25portion - n. the amount of food that is served to a person at one time