Residents of Afghanistan’s western Badghis province say fuel prices have risen sharply with the onset of winter, leaving many households unable to afford heating amid widespread poverty.
In Qala-e-Naw, the provincial capital, residents said petrol is selling for about 70 Afghanis ($1.06) per litre, while liquefied gas costs around 60 Afghanis ($0.91) per kilogram — prices they say are beyond the reach of many families.
“The price of petrol here is very high. Even people who rely on small three-wheel vehicles cannot make a living because fuel is so expensive and there is little work,” said Faridullah, a resident of Badghis.
Others said the sharp rise in fuel costs, combined with weak purchasing power, has forced families to burn scrap materials for cooking and heating.
“Winter has arrived and we have nothing to heat our homes — no wood, no gas, no fuel oil, not even coal,” said Abdullah, another resident.
“Almost everything has become expensive, from food to fuel. Many people simply cannot afford heating materials,” said Abdul Karim, a local resident.
Badghis, one of Afghanistan’s western provinces, experiences long and harsh winters. The province is also among the country’s poorest, and residents say years of economic decline, unemployment and reduced humanitarian aid have left many families struggling to cope with seasonal hardships.
Afghanistan’s economy has contracted sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with banking restrictions, aid cuts and job losses worsening living conditions, particularly in rural and remote areas, according to international agencies.
