politics
Five years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan plunges into a state of collapse
The stark figures show that since the hardliners seized power in 2021, women have been erased from public life, poverty is forcing hopeless families to marry off their daughters and healthcare is on the brink of failure
TL;DR
- Afghanistan faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with nearly half the population requiring aid and over 14 million facing acute food insecurity.
- The economy has collapsed since the Taliban returned in 2021, with reduced government budgets, plummeting foreign trade, and rising unemployment.
- Women's rights have been systematically eroded, with girls barred from secondary education and universities, and women excluded from public life and the workforce.
- Millions of Afghans have been deported from neighboring countries, further straining resources and exacerbating the economic crisis.
- International aid has been significantly reduced, leading to the closure of health clinics and the inability of organizations like the World Food Programme to assist malnourished children.
- Child marriage is on the rise as economic pressures mount, exposing girls to violence, abuse, and early pregnancy.
- Despite internal crises, the Taliban has expanded its international reach, with countries like Russia and China formally recognizing its government.