Residents of Kabul, Afghanistan, are facing rising food prices as the Afghan currency has weakened against the US dollar. On Monday, the Afghani dropped to around 80 to the dollar, marking a sharp decline from its previous level of 70 in recent weeks.
Kabul residents have expressed concern over the impact of these price increases on daily essentials, such as flour, oil, and rice, which have seen price hikes of up to 500 Afghanis ($6.70). Shopkeepers and citizens alike worry that these fluctuations will continue in one of the world’s poorest countries, where the cost of living is already high.
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The depreciation of the Afghani is largely attributed to the freezing of US foreign assistance, a move linked to US President Donald Trump’s administration. As the US remains Afghanistan’s largest aid donor, the reduction in aid is having a significant effect on the local economy. Analysts suggest that without these inflows of dollars, the Afghani will continue to lose value, worsening the situation for the poor.
The World Food Programme reported that nearly 15 million people are going hungry in Afghanistan, with many relying on international aid to survive the country’s harsh winters.
