GARDEZ (SW) – Mounting poverty and joblessness have caused serious concerns among residents of southeastern Paktia province.
Poverty and unemployment are on the rise in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province, and signs of this can be seen in every corner of the province. Paktia residents say they face many economic problems and are worried about it.
Abdullah, who works as a roadside hawker in Gardez, says he sometimes earns money and sometimes goes home empty-handed.
Dozens of unemployed young people spend their days waiting for work every morning at the central crossroads of Gardez. Shir Mohammad and Khanumzaman, two unemployed young men, told Salam Watandar that their workload has decreased with the change of regime. They added that they have only worked two days in the last two weeks.
Unemployment and poor economic status have had a negative impact on many families, especially those who have lost family members in the past to the war.
Abdul Karim, whose son was a former government soldier and got killed, suffers from depression. He lives with his orphaned children and grandchildren in a poor, muddy house. Abdul Karim added that he can not do anything alone.
However, local officials in Paktia say they are trying to help poor families.
Khaleqiar Ahmadzai, Paktia’s director of information and culture, told Salam Watandar that the two humanitarian organizations were working together and had so far identified about 5,000 families and distributed food aid to 2,000 families.
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