Afghanistan is facing growing economic and humanitarian hardship five years after the Taliban returned to power, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
The channel reported that the British newspaper The Telegraph exposed the reality of Afghan Taliban, saying that poverty and a lack of jobs had forced some Afghans to take dangerous routes to neighbouring countries in search of work and a better future.
Some Afghan citizens travelling to Iran in search of employment have reportedly died on the way because of extreme heat and a lack of water.
The deaths of Afghans in desert areas, the report said, highlight the serious effects of growing poverty and unemployment under Taliban rule. Some families are reportedly surviving for several days on little more than dry bread.
The report said about 3.4 million Afghans had been forced to leave the country since the Taliban took control. It also described growing concerns over checkpoints, so-called morality policing and the fear of women going missing.
Women have faced restrictions on education, employment and other parts of daily life. The report said women in markets had faced violence from Taliban officials for not covering their faces.
The restrictions on girls’ education have also remained in place. According to UNESCO figures cited in the report, about 2.4 million girls are being denied education, while around 600,000 women could be out of work.
The report said the lives of girls in Afghanistan had become extremely difficult and warned that further deterioration in conditions could leave some vulnerable girls facing pressure to marry Taliban members as a means of survival.
The Telegraph also reported restrictions on journalists ahead of the Taliban’s 15 August celebrations. Journalists were reportedly instructed to limit coverage to celebrations and avoid critical material. They were also warned of intelligence monitoring and possible action for failing to follow orders.
The report said United Nations figures showed that about 22 million Afghans were expected to need humanitarian assistance this year. United Nations Development Programme figures indicated that about 29 million people were unable to meet their basic needs.
Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has urged Afghans not to believe reports about poverty and hunger. The report also noted that he has rarely appeared publicly before the Afghan population.
The Telegraph’s report portrays Afghanistan as facing serious economic, humanitarian and social challenges five years into Taliban rule, with poverty, unemployment and restrictions on women continuing to affect millions of people.
Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor