As winter arrives in Badghis province, many families say they are facing harsh conditions without adequate supplies. Some parents report that their children are barefoot and lack proper winter clothing.
In Bala Murghab district, residents say they are unable to protect their children from the biting cold due to a lack of basic necessities.
“There are 13 people in our family. We go hungry and thirsty,” said Hafiza, a resident of Badghis. “My children have no shoes or jackets. We can’t afford rice, meat or beans — these are luxuries for us.”
Keeping homes warm is another major concern. Some residents say they cannot afford fuel due to rising prices.
“Fuel is very expensive — a single sack costs 100 afghanis,” said Hanifa, another resident. “Everything is costly. We face many challenges and cannot heat our homes.”
The hardship is worsened by widespread poverty across the province.
“My children work for 50 afghanis a day, and that’s what I use to support the household,” said Shiringul, another resident. “I spend 10 afghanis just to buy potatoes so my children can eat. This is how we survive — through hardship and misery.”
Bala Murghab represents a glimpse of Afghanistan’s broader humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, more than 20 million Afghans will require humanitarian assistance this year. The country remains the world’s second-largest humanitarian emergency, but reductions in international aid have further complicated the situation.
