The Plight Of Afghanistan: Understanding The Roots Of Poverty And Strife

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south-central Asia, bordering Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. It is a country with a rich history, having been the site of numerous military campaigns and home to various peoples. It is also a country with a varied geography, from plains in the north and southwest to mountains in the Hindu Kush range.

Afghanistan is one of the world's least developed countries, ranking 180th in the Human Development Index. It has a population of around 43 million people, with a high population growth rate of 34.8 births per 1,000 people. The country's economy is largely based on agriculture, with wheat, milk, grapes, vegetables, and potatoes being key agricultural products. However, Afghanistan's economy has been in decline, contracting by 20.7% in 2021 and a further 6.2% in 2022. This has led to widespread poverty, with an estimated poverty rate of 54.5% in 2016 and over half of the population living on less than $1 a day. The country also faces issues such as food insecurity, malnutrition, and limited access to education and healthcare.

Afghanistan's economy

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, strategically located between South and East Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the far northeast. The country is predominantly mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest.

The economy is largely based on agriculture, with about 40% of the workforce employed in this sector as of 2018. The country is known for producing and exporting fresh and dry fruits, saffron, cashmere, and cannabis. Opium production is also significant but remains illicit. Afghanistan has an abundance of natural resources, including lithium, iron, zinc, copper, coal, and uranium. The service sector contributes the most to the GDP, followed by agriculture and industry.

The World Bank and other international organizations are providing critical support to the Afghan people, focusing on humanitarian aid, basic service delivery, and livelihoods. There have been efforts to shift the economy towards private sector-led growth, capitalizing on the country's inherent strengths in agriculture and extractive sectors. However, the absence of GDP growth and declining external financing avenues paint a bleak picture for the country's economic prospects in the near term.

Afghanistan's long-term growth prospects depend on a significant shift away from reliance on international aid and consumption-driven growth. Structural deficiencies in the private sector and waning international support for essential services are expected to impede economic progress. The economic stagnation will likely deepen poverty and unemployment, with job opportunities expected to decrease and food insecurity expected to increase.

The impact of war on Afghanistan's development

Afghanistan has been in a state of war for the last four decades. The war has had a devastating impact on the country's development, leaving it as one of the least developed countries in the world.

The war in Afghanistan was an armed conflict from 2001 to 2021. It was triggered by the September 11 attacks and consisted of three phases. The first phase was the toppling of the Taliban regime, which was brief, lasting just two months. The second phase, from 2002 until 2008, was marked by a US strategy of defeating the Taliban militarily and rebuilding core institutions of the Afghan state. The third phase, a turn to classic counterinsurgency doctrine, began in 2008 and accelerated with US President Barack Obama's decision to temporarily increase US troop presence in Afghanistan.

The war caused the deaths of an estimated 176,000-212,000+ people, including 46,319 civilians. It also led to a significant increase in poverty and malnutrition rates in the country. Afghanistan's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is among the lowest in the world as of 2020.

The war also had a severe impact on Afghanistan's infrastructure and economy. The country lost access to the international banking system and offshore foreign exchange reserves, and tens of thousands of highly skilled Afghans fled the country. The war disrupted investment confidence, and overall economic activity remained depressed, with unemployment remaining high.

The war also had a significant impact on Afghanistan's social fabric. It led to the displacement of millions of Afghans, who sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. The war also contributed to the rise of extremist groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, which imposed strict interpretations of Islamic law and committed systematic massacres against civilians.

The war in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the country's development, leaving it with a fragile economy, high poverty and malnutrition rates, and a lack of basic infrastructure and services. The country continues to face significant challenges as it strives to recover from the effects of the war.

The Taliban's impact on women's rights

Afghanistan has been occupied by Soviet troops and US-led international forces, and ruled by militant groups, including the Taliban. The Taliban's impact on women's rights has been extensive and far-reaching.

The Taliban is a group that emerged in 1994, composed of former Mujahideen fighters trained in Pakistan during Afghanistan's civil war in the '80s and '90s. They aim to make Afghanistan an Islamic state and have ruled the country from 1996-2001 and 2021-present. The Taliban has become notorious for its human rights abuses, especially towards women and girls.

Under the Taliban, women and girls face discrimination and are denied many basic human rights. They are banned from:

• Going to school or studying beyond the age of eight.
• Leaving the house without a male chaperone.
• Showing their skin in public (they are forced to wear a full-body veil/burqa).
• Accessing healthcare delivered by men (with women forbidden from working, healthcare is virtually inaccessible).
• Being involved in politics or speaking publicly.

Women are essentially invisible in public life and are imprisoned in their homes. They are not allowed to laugh loudly or speak loudly in public, and their presence is banned from TV, radio, and sports. They are also prohibited from entering beauty salons, gyms, and parks.

The Taliban enforces its version of Islamic Sharia law, which includes public flogging and execution for violations. Men can commit domestic violence and even kill their female family members with impunity. Women who suffer rape and other forms of violence are often accused of 'moral crimes' and risk being stoned to death as punishment.

The impact of foreign aid on Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a poor country. It is one of the world's least developed countries, ranking 180th in the Human Development Index. It has a low GDP per capita of US$507 in 2019 and a high unemployment rate of 35%. The country is heavily reliant on foreign aid, which accounts for more than 90% of the national budget.

Foreign aid has had a significant impact on Afghanistan. Since 2002, the country has received approximately $35 billion in international aid. However, much of this aid has not helped ease poverty or improve economic and living conditions. It is estimated that 40% of US aid to Afghanistan since 2001 ended up in the pockets of corrupt officials, warlords, criminals, and insurgents.

In August 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan, and the country's economy contracted sharply. The freezing of assets and international aid, intended to halt the flow of money to the Taliban, has had far-reaching consequences for the Afghan people. The economy is on the brink of collapse, and the UN has warned of a "make or break moment".

The World Bank and other international donors have since shifted their approach to providing humanitarian support and off-budget support for basic service delivery and livelihoods. This aid has helped to cushion falling aggregate demand and has contributed to some recovery in private sector activity. However, overall economic activity remains depressed, unemployment is high, and the banking sector is dysfunctional.

Afghanistan's healthcare system

In 2001, the United Nations decided to rebuild Afghanistan and resolve its political issues. As a result, there are now over 3,000 health facilities and more than 17,000 health posts across the country, including the first neurosurgery hospital. There are also over 100 government-run and private or internationally-administered hospitals in Afghanistan. The most advanced medical treatments are available in Kabul, followed by Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Despite these improvements, Afghanistan's healthcare system continues to face several challenges. The country has a shortage of healthcare workers, with only 6,000 physicians and 14,000 nurses for a population of 28 million people. Additionally, the security situation in Afghanistan remains unsafe and unpredictable, with threats such as suicide bombers, the widespread narcotics trade, and kidnapping for ransom. This has led to the closure of many health centres and has made it difficult for people to access healthcare facilities.

The economic instability in Afghanistan has also impacted the healthcare system, with nearly 70% of Afghans living in extreme poverty and a 32% unemployment rate. The country's healthcare system is heavily reliant on external aid, and the recent suspension of major funding sources has put the system on the brink of collapse.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the challenges faced by the healthcare system, with a lack of medical supplies and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. The Taliban's takeover of the country in 2021 also led to a decrease in female healthcare workers, as many female nurses fled the country due to political instability and a lack of educational opportunities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations have been working to support the Afghan government in improving the healthcare system. They have provided technical support, developed new health packages, and assisted in formulating national health strategies. However, the future of Afghanistan's healthcare system remains uncertain, and it will require a combination of specific goal-oriented projects, foreign aid, and domestic responsibility to achieve long-term sustainability.

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