BADGHIS, Afghanistan — As winter approaches, Afghanistan’s Kochis, a nomadic group in the western provinces, say they are struggling with economic hardships that threaten their way of life and their livestock, which is central to their survival.
Many Kochis report paying taxes on grazing lands to feed their animals but say they receive little to no assistance from the Taliban government when they face crises. Heavy spring rains earlier this year destroyed shelters and left some Kochi families without adequate shelter as they brace for winter’s arrival.
“We can no longer support our families,” said Rahimullah, a Kochi resident in Badghis. “Many of our livestock may die because we can’t afford to feed them.” He described how floods have damaged homes, washed away sheep, and destroyed infrastructure, but added, “Yet no one hears our voices.”
Ghulam Hazrat, another Kochi resident, called for immediate aid. “They should deliver barley and straw to us and fix our roads because winter is near, and we are struggling to provide for our livestock,” he said.
In addition to food and shelter shortages, Kochis are also facing health issues caused by a lack of safe drinking water. “We have a major problem with water,” said Arbab Ghulam Rahim. “We bring water from distant places using donkeys and horses, but it’s heavily contaminated, and many people are getting sick.”
Kochis in western Afghanistan were once regarded as part of the country’s wealthier class, with vast livestock holdings. But years of severe drought have eroded their resources, leaving many families in economic distress as the harsh winter months close in.
