As winter tightens its grip on central Afghanistan, hundreds of low-income families in Ghazni province are struggling to heat their homes amid rising fuel prices and widespread unemployment, residents said.
The increase in the cost of firewood and other heating materials has added to the financial strain on families already grappling with limited job opportunities and falling daily wages.
“In one compound, three brothers live together,” said Khushhal, a resident of Ghazni. “We have no firewood and barely enough food. There is no steady work. Some days we earn 100 to 150 afghanis, and on other days there is nothing.”
Residents said fuel prices have continued to climb as temperatures fall, making it increasingly difficult for families to prepare for the harsh winter months. Many rely on daily labour for income, which they say has become scarce.
“We are facing many problems,” said Syed Mohammad, another resident. “Sometimes we earn 200 to 250 afghanis, sometimes nothing at all. Our request is that assistance be provided and firewood prices reduced so people can afford to survive the winter.”
Some residents have called on Taliban authorities to intervene by lowering fuel prices or providing winter aid to vulnerable households.
Afghanistan has faced a prolonged economic crisis since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with high unemployment and rising living costs hitting poor families hardest. As winter deepens, residents in Ghazni say their concerns are growing over how they will cope with the cold in the weeks ahead.
