STORY: Afghanistan celebrates Eid al-Adha amid tight security, economic hardships
DATELINE: June 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:11
LOCATION: Kabul
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various shots of a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): NAQIBULLAH, Kabul resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): HAJJI MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Kabul resident

STORYLINE:

Afghans celebrated Eid al-Adha on Wednesday, one of the largest annual religious festivals observed by Muslims worldwide, amid tight security.

Naqibullah, while attending the local mosque to partake in the Eid al-Adha prayer, expressed gratitude towards the establishment for stabilizing peace and security, saying the first day of Eid began with peace.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): NAQIBULLAH, Kabul resident
"In terms of security, criminal activities including theft and robbery have been drastically reduced and people are living in a peaceful environment. People have been living in peace and we started the first day of Eid in a peaceful environment and after Eid prayers, we visited the friends and relatives in their houses. It is crystal clear that Afghans have been suffering from economic hardships. The economic situation is harsh."

The shopkeeper claimed that the profit he earned from his business compared to previous years has dropped by 80 percent as the increasing poverty has devoured the purchasing power of the citizens.

Like Naqibullah, many Afghans are skeptical regarding the prospects of economic recovery and the betterment of living conditions, as the rates of unemployment and poverty have both increased.

More than 28 million Afghans, or two-thirds of Afghanistan's population, according to aid agencies' reports, are facing food insecurity.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): HAJJI MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN, Kabul resident
"Our economy is weak but we are hopeful to overcome the hardships gradually. Our demand from the caretaker government is to create job opportunities. This was the first time that we had offered our Eid prayers with compatriots without security incidents. Although I could not buy the necessary goods to celebrate the Eid holidays, I am happy to enjoy peace. Our people are living in peace and peace is everything."

The security personnel had been deployed at the gate of all the mosques and checked anyone who entered the mosque as part of security measures to ensure the safety of the worshippers.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kabul.
(XHTV)