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Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Bare Dastarkhaans Reveal Rising Poverty, Hunger Under The Taliban

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 triggered the collapse of Afghanistan’s aid-dependent economy, leading to rising food prices and soaring unemployment. The economic crunch has fueled a hunger crisis in the country of some 40 million people.

According to the United Nations, a staggering 95 percent of Afghans are not getting enough to eat. That is reflected in the dastarkhaans -- or dining rugs -- in Afghan households. Families from across the country, some of whom were unwilling to reveal their names due to safety concerns, sent photos of their bare dastarkhaans to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

This family in Kandahar eats bread with tea for breakfast. Women and children are the most vulnerable to hunger. Earlier this year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that some 1.1 million Afghan children under the age of 5 risked dying of severe acute malnutrition, while more than 3.2 million children faced malnutrition.
1 This family in Kandahar eats bread with tea for breakfast.

Women and children are the most vulnerable to hunger. Earlier this year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that some 1.1 million Afghan children under the age of 5 risked dying of severe acute malnutrition, while more than 3.2 million children faced malnutrition.
Hasibullah is a resident of Firozkoh, the provincial capital of central Ghor Province. “Before the Taliban takeover, I had a job and earned a living. I could afford to feed my family well. Unfortunately, those days are over. Food is very expensive. I feel ashamed that I cannot give my kids the food they need or want. It really pains me.”
2 Hasibullah is a resident of Firozkoh, the provincial capital of central Ghor Province. “Before the Taliban takeover, I had a job and earned a living. I could afford to feed my family well. Unfortunately, those days are over. Food is very expensive. I feel ashamed that I cannot give my kids the food they need or want. It really pains me.”
Pashtana, a widow, also lives in Kandahar city. She and her three children eat potatoes for lunch. Pashtana used to beg until it was banned in the city by the Taliban. The militant group provides her with a bag of flour, rice, and cooking oil each month. But she says this does not meet the family’s needs.
3 Pashtana, a widow, also lives in Kandahar city. She and her three children eat potatoes for lunch. Pashtana used to beg until it was banned in the city by the Taliban. The militant group provides her with a bag of flour, rice, and cooking oil each month. But she says this does not meet the family’s needs.
“In the past, we could regularly buy meat, rice, and vegetables," says Ahmad Zia, a resident of the western province of Farah. "Now I’m unemployed and we cannot afford many food items. Now, we are lucky if we afford to buy meat once a month.”
4 “In the past, we could regularly buy meat, rice, and vegetables," says Ahmad Zia, a resident of the western province of Farah. "Now I’m unemployed and we cannot afford many food items. Now, we are lucky if we afford to buy meat once a month.”
This couple lives in the southern city of Kandahar. They eat scraps of dry bread with water for breakfast. The man is unemployed, and the couple relies on handouts in order to survive.
5 This couple lives in the southern city of Kandahar. They eat scraps of dry bread with water for breakfast. The man is unemployed, and the couple relies on handouts in order to survive.
Before the Taliban seized power, Hasibullah says his family would regularly buy meat, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Here, Hasibullah provides a photo of what his dining rug looked like a year ago.
6 Before the Taliban seized power, Hasibullah says his family would regularly buy meat, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Here, Hasibullah provides a photo of what his dining rug looked like a year ago.
Khan Mohammad, who lives in the city of Tarinkot, has nine children. Here, the farmer eats lunch with his children at home. Mohammad says they do not eat anything for dinner.
7 Khan Mohammad, who lives in the city of Tarinkot, has nine children. Here, the farmer eats lunch with his children at home. Mohammad says they do not eat anything for dinner.
Zarmina, a widow, has two children. She lives in the southern city of Lashkar Gah. She and her children eat bread and drink water for lunch. In March, the World Food Program said that almost 100 percent of female-headed households are facing "insufficient food consumption." Households headed by women are the most vulnerable group among the nearly 9 million Afghans, and the WFP warns they are at risk of "famine-like" conditions.
8 Zarmina, a widow, has two children. She lives in the southern city of Lashkar Gah. She and her children eat bread and drink water for lunch.

In March, the World Food Program said that almost 100 percent of female-headed households are facing "insufficient food consumption." Households headed by women are the most vulnerable group among the nearly 9 million Afghans, and the WFP warns they are at risk of "famine-like" conditions.

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