Massive crowds form outside banks in Kabul, as locals rush to withdraw cash

Record ID: 1634290

  • Title: Massive crowds form outside banks in Kabul, as locals rush to withdraw cash
  • Date: 30th August 2021
  • Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE AZIZI BANK BUILDING EXTERIOR OF BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUEING (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) RESIDENT OF KABUL, MOHAMMAD ESAAM, SAYING: "We call on the Islamic government to announce its government as soon as possible. The situation in Afghanistan is very bad, everyone is confused and goes to the borders to leave the country, everyone is speechless and I do not know what the future of the people will be." BUILDING / CONGESTED STREET POINT-OF-VIEW FROM CAR OF CONGESTED STREET VARIOUS OF CROWD OF PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE THE FIRST MICROFINANCE BANK, CONGESTED STREET VARIOUS OF MEN GATHERED AROUND STREET STALL (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) RESIDENT OF KABUL, SHAH AGHA, SAYING: "The working situation is zero because banks and exchange markets are closed. We call on the Islamic Emirate to build the Afghan economy as soon as possible and so that the Afghans can come and start working again." MEN GATHERED AROUND STREET STALL, PERSON TALKING ON PHONE VARIOUS OF AFGHAN FLAG ON STREET LIGHT
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2021 12:20
  • Keywords: Afghanistan Azizi Bank First Microfinance Bank Kabul Taliban banks reopening crowds economy money withdrawing
  • Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • City: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ESGZHON
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Afghans wanting to withdraw money were seen gathered outside banks in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday (August 30), amid concerns over the implementation of new restrictions on cash withdrawal.
    Earlier on Saturday (August 28), a statement from the ruling Taliban militant group had ordered banks to reopen and imposed a limit on withdrawals of 20,000 afghani ($233).
    Local resident Shah Agha hoped the reopening of banks would result in work being available for Afghans again. "The working situation is zero because banks and exchange markets are closed. We call on the Islamic Emirate to build the Afghan economy as soon as possible," he said.
    Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said officials had already been appointed to run key institutions including the ministries of public health and education and the central bank. He also said he expected the serious economic turbulence which has hit the afghani currency to ease soon.
    Prices for commodities including flour, oil and rice are rapidly rising and the currency is plunging, with money changers in Pakistan already refusing to accept the afghani.
  • 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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