Afghan small businesses struggling since Taliban takeover
Cash-strapped Afghan locals as well as small businesses have been struggling to stay afloat since the Taliban takeover last month and fear the economy could collapse.
CAPE TOWN, September 14 (ANA) – Cash-strapped Afghan locals as well as small businesses have been struggling to stay afloat since the Taliban takeover last month and fear the economy could collapse.
South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Tuesday that some residents have started selling their household items, such as bedding and furniture, in order to meet their basic needs.
Locals say there are no jobs and have called on the new government to “prepare the ground for us to work” so that they can feed their families.
After the Taliban had seized the capital city of Kabul, international financial institutions cut off the country’s access to foreign funds.
For small businesses such as barbers and restaurants, they are unsure how Afghanistan’s capital city will survive as business has slowed down dramatically. And, with most foreign customers having left the country, Afghan barbers have even less work since the Taliban banned men from trimming their beards.
“We used to work with foreigners, and our clients included people from the British embassy, the Canadian embassy and so on,“ said barbershop owner Nazar Mohammad.
Nazar added that he might have to leave the country if his business is unable to put food on the table.
Earlier this month, the United Nations said in a statement that Afghanistan is at risk of a “total breakdown” and called on the international community to show their support.
According to Al Jazeera, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres followed that up on Monday at a conference in Geneva where donors have pledged more US$1.1 billion to help Afghanistan.
China has also stepped forward and promised to assist Afghanistan with US$31 million worth of emergency aid, which includes Covid-19 vaccines and food supplies.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher
