Afghanistan: Farah residents report deepening economic hardship

Herat fruit sellers struggle as costs rise and demand weakens

Fruit sellers in Afghanistan’s western Herat province say their businesses have fallen sharply from previous years, as rising living costs and weak consumer demand leave many traders struggling to survive. Vendors say they now work into the late hours of the night in a bid to earn enough to cover basic expenses, often lighting small fires to keep warm during winter evenings while waiting for customers in largely deserted markets. “Business is ba…