GHOR — In the mountainous province of Ghor, northwestern Afghanistan, many families began the Eid al-Adha holiday on Saturday without new clothes, sweets, or the means to mark the occasion through traditional celebrations, as economic hardship continues to deepen across the country.
Residents said that even on the first day of Eid — typically a time of festivity, family visits, and animal sacrifice — they struggled to provide even the most basic necessities.
Wasima, a young widow, had decorated her small home in anticipation of Eid. But with no income and no husband to support her and her child, she said she was unable to afford clothing, food, or a sacrificial animal.
“Eid came, and we have nothing,” she said. “I didn’t buy anything for myself or my child. As for a sacrificial animal — not at all. I can’t afford it. The situation is very bad.”
She is one of many women across Ghor who greeted Eid in quiet resignation — without new garments, sweet dishes, or the means to participate in communal rituals that typically mark one of Islam’s most significant holidays.
Abdul Jabar, another resident, said he cares for both his daughter and granddaughter and struggles to cover their daily expenses. The cost of food, he said, has made it nearly impossible to celebrate Eid in any meaningful way.
“Eid has arrived, but we have no strength or means to buy anything for our children,” he said. “As for a sacrifice — we don’t have that either. We’re so poor, I don’t think it’s possible to be poorer than this.”
Their stories echo a broader crisis affecting millions. According to the United Nations, an estimated 23 million Afghans currently require humanitarian assistance, the result of economic collapse, prolonged drought, and international isolation since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
While Eid is traditionally a time of joy and generosity throughout the Muslim world, for many in Ghor and beyond, the holiday has become a solemn reminder of economic fragility and the limits of survival.
