GHAZNI CITY (SW) – As the residents of Ghazni experience the coldest days of the year, the shortage of firewood in the market and its high prices have forced many locals to cut down fruit trees to heat their homes.
Ghulam Sakhi, a resident of Ghazni, says that due to economic hardship, he cannot afford to buy firewood at such high prices. He adds, “We can’t buy firewood; we are forced to gather wood and kindling from the mountains or our own orchards, but it’s still not enough.”
Another resident, Golabuddin, states, “There is not enough firewood available. Even if there is some, its price is very high, which has forced people to use wood from their orchards.”
The shortage of firewood in Ghazni’s markets, along with those in other provinces, has caused the price of firewood to increase dramatically compared to last year. This situation has made it difficult for many families to secure enough firewood to heat their homes.
Mohammad, a street vendor in Ghazni city, who has come to the market to buy firewood, says that the price of firewood in the province has nearly doubled compared to last year. He adds, “Currently, firewood costs 200 afghanis per 7 kg. There’s no firewood available in most stores. I wander around, unsure of what to do.”
Meanwhile, Ghazni officials say that the problem of firewood shortages will be resolved soon with the implementation of a fuel price control program.
Maghfurullah Maghfur, a sectoral and cultural expert in the Ghazni provincial office and head of the price control committee, says that enough firewood has arrived in Ghazni in the past two days, and new price lists will soon be distributed to firewood vendors. “We have monitored the firewood sales; more wood has arrived, and we are ready to control its sale. In the coming days, we will set the price for firewood.”
Ghazni experiences harsh winters, and every year many families in the province struggle to secure the fuel needed to heat their homes due to financial difficulties.
