HERAT, Afghanistan — The reduction of foreign aid has significantly affected the ability of residents in this western Afghan city to afford basic necessities, local vendors and residents say.
Street vendors selling fresh produce report a sharp decline in customers’ purchasing power since international assistance was curtailed. Farid Ahmad, a fruit and vegetable seller in Herat, said that as humanitarian aid from organizations has dwindled, many families can no longer afford to buy in the same quantities as before.
“It has had a huge impact,” he said. “In the past, business was good. Now, people have less work and lower incomes, and it’s because of the cuts in aid. Before, a customer would buy a kilo of apples, but now they only buy a few.”
Beyond market stalls, many Herat residents cite a dual crisis: reduced foreign aid and a decline in job opportunities.
“People’s purchasing power has decreased because there is less money,” said Abdullah, a Herat resident. “The economic situation is very weak. People have no money, and there is no business.”
The economic strain has been exacerbated by the fluctuating value of the afghani against the U.S. dollar, a trend linked to the recent reduction in American aid. A deputy minister in the Taliban-led government told Amu that restrictions on U.S. assistance have led to the suspension of operations for 50 organizations across the country.
As foreign funding continues to wane, many in Herat worry that poverty and unemployment will only deepen in the months ahead.
