- Title: Afghans queue to withdraw money as banks remain shut
- Date: 25th August 2021
- Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 25, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE BANKS MEN SITTING ON FLOOR OUTSIDE BANK MEN SPEAKING TO UNIDENTIFIED ARMED MEN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE BANK VARIOUS OF MEN STANDING BESIDE WESTERN UNION POSTER UNIDENTIFIED MAN PUSHING PEOPLE BACK VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF AZIZI BANK PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE BANK (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AZIZI BANK CUSTOMER, HASHMATULLAH, SAYING: "(We) are the customers of Azizi bank. We came here today to get money, not only today but also yesterday, and we stood behind closed banks all the day. Some people say they will be open but it has not happened yet. The time is now 11:30 or 12:00, but the banks have not been opened yet. When the media (reporters) come here, they (banks officials) say the banks will be opened, but when they leave, the banks are still closed and our problem has not been solved yet. We have a lot of financial problems, we live in Kabul and we need to buy but we do not have money. Kabul Bank was opened and some distribution (of money) was done, but Azizi bank has not opened and money was not distributed at all. Our request to the government is to open the banks as soon as possible so that our problems can be solved." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE BANKS
- Embargoed: 8th September 2021 14:12
- Keywords: Afghans queuing outside banks Aziz bank GVS Taliban to open banks banks closed
- Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001ERS0LDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Long queues of mostly men were seen outside banks in Kabul on Wednesday (August 25), a day after a Taliban spokesman said that banks will open soon.
Outside a branch of Azizi bank, one man said the facility was yet to open and that he was running out of money to meet his daily needs.
Some men were being allowed to enter Azizi bank, but it was not confirmed if any transactions were taking place.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday (August 24) that all banks will open by the next day.
Prices of staples like flour, oil and rice have risen by as much as 10%-20% since the Taliban seized control of the country. With banks still closed, many people have been unable to access their savings. With Western Union offices also closed, remittances from overseas have also dried up.
(Production: Parul Gupta) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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