The hardline Islamist Taliban movement in Afghanistan has announced a recruitment program to reduce unemployment and hunger. Taliban spokesman Sabihullah Mujahid said in a press conference today, that thousands of unemployed people will participate in the recruitment procedures and will get wheat in return.
“This is an important step in the fight against unemployment,” the spokesman said. However, the participants will have to “work hard”. They shouldn’t get any money.
Tens of thousands must participate
In the capital, Kabul alone, 40,000 men are expected to participate in the two-month programme. A total of 11,600 tons of wheat are planned for this. 55 thousand tons of wheat will be distributed in the rest of the country.
The new program targets the unemployed who are particularly at risk of starvation in the winter. They are supposed to dig water channels and catchment basins in order to mitigate future droughts.
Afghanistan relies heavily on foreign aid, which has been sharply curtailed since the radical Islamist militia came to power in August. The United Nations warns of impending famine for a large part of the population, including millions of children, in the winter. The country suffers from drought, economic crisis and power outages.
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