KABUL (SW) – Endemic poverty and the vicious cycle of socio-political unrest has forced many women out on to the streets in search for livelihood.
Najiba, a woman who sells socks and paper towels every day in the Pol-e Sorkh area of Kabul city, says that she has to work from morning till evening to provide for the needs of her sick husband and seven children. “I leave the house at 8:00 o’clock in the morning. I have seven children and my husband has a heart problem and cannot work. I have to be the breadwinner. I earn only 200 Afghanis a day,” she sighed.
Najiba, who turned to this roadside work out of necessity, says that she also faces street harassment during his work. “Right where I am sitting, many men look at me and saying what kind of woman she is, but I am not bad a bad person, I just work and bring halal bread to my children. That means everything to me,” she explained.
In another corner of the Pol-e Sorkh area, Halima sells children’s clothes and food items. In addition to roadside selling, she also embroiders shoes. Halima’s husband has passed away and she has to earn livelihood for her five children. Halima says: “I have been working with wheelbarrow for three years. I used to work as a tailor in the United Nations office. My son is smaller age and goes to school. My daughters are young and need money to study. I leave in the morning after prayer. Sometimes, I earn 200 or 300 Afghanis, of which I also pay 3000 Afghanis for house rent,” Halima said.
Some other females working on the streets in Kabul also say that if there are suitable jobs for them in other institutions and offices, they will not be forced to stay and work on the roads.
Fariba and her husband have to earn livelihood for their nine-members family through roadside vending. Fariba says: “We sell stationery because our economic situation is weak and there is no job for the male members of our family. We had to leave the house for work. In this heat, even if we don’t have any energy left, we have to work. If there are jobs for women and the government gives them a living, we are ready to work and get away from the roads.”
On the other hand, Abdul Rahman Habib, the spokesman of the Ministry of Economy, considers the role of women important in the growth of Afghanistan’s economy and mentioned plans for creating job opportunities for them.
He elaborated: “Our goal is to gradually reduce poverty, create job opportunities and progress in a sustainable manner. Women play an important role in the growth of the economy, which can reduce poverty, increase national income, and contribute to the growth of the family economy. Various programs are under way to support small businesses, domestic productions, and in the marketing area, and in this way, we will provide various work opportunities for women.”
As per the United Nations estimates, some 23.7 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian aid.
