MONITORING (SW) – The latest results from Gallup’s annual Mood of the Nation survey, suggests that rising poverty in Afghanistan has put Afghans at a grim disadvantage, with 94 percent of them living in poverty.
According to the survey, 75% of Afghan citizens are unable to provide the food they need and 58% of them do not have adequate shelter to survive. According to Gallup, women are more likely than men to suffer.
But, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, wrote on Twitter today that this Western media outlet, Gallup’s poll findings are just a ‘propaganda’.
He said that now the war and casualties in the country are over and the people are living in peace and security. According to Zabihullah Mujahid, there were already economic problems in the country, but the Islamic Emirate is now trying to prevent it.
However, after the Islamic Emirate’s domination of Afghanistan, the unemployment rate has increased and this has led to poverty.
Mohammad Asif, a Kabul resident who previously worked in a government office, has now turned to shoe making. He described the current state of his life as worrying.
At the same time, a number of sociologists believe that the lack of political structure and governance system has harmed the country’s economic development, which has increased poverty and, consequently, sufferings for all.
“One of the influential components of economic failure is the change of the political system, which means that we are facing a fragile political system that has no specific formula for economic development” said Manizheh Bahreh, a university professor and sociologist.
Sharafuddin Azimi, a psychologist, also believes that poverty increases the suffering of people with mental illness.
The Gallup poll report is not the first concern about the plight of Afghan citizens, as a number of international organizations have previously raised similar concerns.
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