Badakhshan road blockades send food prices soaring

KUNDUZ CITY (PAN): Food prices have spiraled in 17 districts of northeastern Badakhshan province as roads linking the towns with provincial capital, Kunduz City, remained closed due to recent snowfall, officials said on Friday.

Seven kilograms of flour, priced at 120 afghanis in the capital, accounted for 200 afs in Raghha district, Abdul Saboor, a dweller, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The governor’s spokesman, Abdul Maroof Rasikh, confirmed the problem, saying it was an annual phenomenon.

He said roads in some mountainous border areas remained closed for six months a year with residents being supplied food items through Tajikistan.

He said residents in remote parts were faced with problems like the lack of food items, medicine and non availability of forage due to road blocks triggered by heavy snow.

The agriculture department and the emergency response committee delivered some assistance to the cut off people, but it had not been sufficient, he added.

Badakhashan that borders Tajikistan has 28 districts. Snowfall begins every December and leads to closure of roads for up to six months each year.

myn/ma

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