Kabul residents look to a future of uncertainty, hardship

Record ID: 1634119

  • Title: Kabul residents look to a future of uncertainty, hardship
  • Date: 29th August 2021
  • Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 29, 2021) (REUTERS) AFGHAN WOMAN WALKING ON FOOTPATH (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, KHALID, SAYING: "The situation is not good for work matters and since the arrival of the Taliban (to Kabul), there is no work." (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, JAVED, SAYING: "The future of Afghanistan is clear, everything has been messed up and everyone sees that passengers, including little ones and elders, come from everywhere (to the airport), and they are all without a future." (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) KABUL RESIDENT, ZELGAI, SAYING: "Everything is expensive now, and the prices are rising. For example, yesterday, I bought tomatoes for 50 Afghanis ($0.54), but I bought them today for 80 Afghanis ($0.62). The prices are rising every day." (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) UNIDENTIFIED KABUL RESIDENT, SAYING: REPORTER ASKS: WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL (OF FOREIGN TROOPS?) "I don't know, that is up to God, and no one can guarantee. I'm 40 or 45 years old, and there have been many transitions and only God knows what happens." PEOPLE EATING AT ROADSIDE KIOSK
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2021 13:06
  • Keywords: Kabul Taliban evacuation flights end takeover
  • Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace,Insurgencies
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ESBZRD3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Kabul residents on Sunday (August 29) worried about their futures as the United States wrapped up their evacuation mission and the Taliban prepared to take over control of the airport, severing the only way out of Afghanistan for most people.
    In addition to worries about how their life will change under the Taliban, people were concerned about the immediate future and putting food on the table as prices have risen steadily since the Taliban took over on August 15 and banks have been closed.
    "Everything is expensive now, and the prices are rising. For example, yesterday, I bought tomatoes for 50 Afghanis ($0.54), but I bought them today for 80 Afghanis ($0.62). The prices are rising every day," said Zelgai, a Kabul resident.
    Afghans desperate to leave the country had been rushing to get to the airport in Kabul but those not able to get there or have no way to get onto international evacuation flights have been heading to the land borders seeking to cross into Pakistan or Iran. A massive suicide attack on August 26 killed more than 170 outside of the Hamid Karzai International Airport as evacuation operations were underway. The international efforts to move foreigners have picked up pace due to security concerns since the deadly blast.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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