KABUL, Afghanistan — As millions of Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr with family gatherings and festive meals, residents of Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province say the holiday passed with little joy, overshadowed by deepening economic hardship.
“We are celebrating Eid with empty hands,” said Zalmay, a resident of the province. “There is no business, and nothing is affordable. This is our reality.”
Across Uruzgan, one of Afghanistan’s more remote and impoverished provinces, families say they are struggling to meet even basic daily needs. For many, the idea of preparing a traditional Eid feast or buying new clothes for children is simply out of reach.
“Even dry bread is all we can offer our children,” said Raz Mohammad, who noted that his financial situation has become increasingly dire in recent weeks. “We have no money to buy anything for Eid.”
Another resident, Naser, said his father is ill and that the family cannot afford even the simplest gifts to mark the occasion. “We don’t have clothes or shoes for Eid,” he said.
Though Eid is traditionally a time of joy, community, and generosity, residents say the worsening economy has dimmed the celebrations. Many families return from the markets empty-handed, unable to afford food or supplies. The province has seen little recovery since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, which led to a sharp decline in international aid and a freeze on Afghan assets abroad.
The residents of Uruzgan are now calling on aid agencies and the international community to step in and address the worsening humanitarian situation.
“There is no excitement this Eid,” one local said. “Only hardship. We are just trying to survive.”
