Needy families resort to selling household stuff in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Poverty and economic hardships have forced many families in western Herat province to sell their household items to survive.

Nadira, 42, a resident of Herat and the only breadwinner of her 11-member family, told Pajhwok Afghan News she brought the clothes of her family members to the market for selling in order to earn a living.

While breaking into tears, she said: “I’m forced to sell the family’s clothes.”

“There are eleven members in our family, and I’m responsible for all their expenses. I have no other option but to sell the household items out of necessity,” she added.

The depressed lady grumbled that currently there was no work for women and asked the government to address their problems.

Mir Ahmad, another needy person who was selling second-hand plates, mattresses and various types of shoes, told Pajhwok that he had been unable to find a job for several weeks. He said he found this market a good place to sell some of his household items.

According to him, the increase in food prices and lack of employment forced people to sell their household belongings.

Meanwhile, Abdul Sattar, another resident of Herat and one of the buyers of second-hand items, told Pajhwok that he purchased old items and resold them for a small profit.

Razia, 21, a newlywed woman, has come to Herat City from a remote area to purchase second-hand items for her new life and organize her house.

She said currently her family’s economic situation was not stable and she had to buy second-hand items for her home.

She said: “I came today here to purchase clothes. I ask the officials to support these people.”

Meanwhile, Shoaib Rahimi, an economic expert, said the country’s economic situation was not good and people were selling their household items out of need and poverty.

According to him, currently there is economic crisis in Afghanistan and if the situation does not improve, the people will witness human catastrophe and abject poverty.

Zubair Rauf, head of Human Resources in the Department of Labor and Social Affairs, told Pajhwok: “Every year it is possible to graduate 2,000 to 5,000 people from various professions and then introduce them to the departments for employment.”

sa/ma