Dwindling incomes hit hard in Kabul

KABUL－Qargha Lake, in the Afghan capital's west, was once a highly popular recreational site, but these days it is almost deserted, the victim of economic problems.

"The number of visitors to the Qargha Lake amusement park has fallen drastically," said Zadran, 50, a roadside food seller.

"A year ago I could earn up to 4,000 afghanis ($43) daily but at the moment I can hardly earn 300 afghanis a day."

Zadran, who started his roadside food shop in the lake area 10 years ago, said he is the sole breadwinner for his family of eight.

High unemployment and poverty, among other economic problems, have dealt a blow to the people of Afghanistan, reducing the number of visitors to the park.

However, Zadran said he feels safer working in his roadside shop every day, praising improved security in Afghanistan since US-led forces left.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the Taliban-led government after the US beat a retreat in late August, battering the economy of the war-torn country.

More than 22 million of the country's 35 million people have been facing acute food insecurity despite humanitarian help from countries and aid agencies, aid agencies say.

"Poverty has affected my income," said Abdul Rashid, a photographer who earns a living taking photos of tourists.

"I charged 20 afghanis for each photo last year but I now charge half of that," he said, meaning it has become difficult to support his family of 10.

Xinhua