NPR: Afghan currency slides and prices surge as already battered economy worsens
HERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — The value of Afghanistan's currency is tumbling, exacerbating an already severe economic crisis and deepening poverty in a country where more than half the population already doesn't have enough to eat.
The afghani lost more than 11% of its value against the U.S. dollar in the space of a day earlier this week, before recouping somewhat. But the market remains volatile, and the devaluation is already impacting Afghans.
Afghanistan's economy was already troubled when the international community froze billions of dollars' worth of Afghanistan's assets abroad and stopped all international funding to the country after the Taliban assumed power in mid-August amid a chaotic U.S. and NATO troop withdrawal.
The consequences have been dire for a country heavily dependent on foreign aid.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Besides facing the very real prospect of mass starvation .... Appeal to help Afghanistan over starvation fears (BBC News), Afghanistan is also facing a collapsing health system .... Afghanistan’s health care system on the brink of collapse (AP).