Afghanistan Times
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KABUL — The World Bank has issued a stark warning that conflict-ridden economies like Afghanistan are becoming the global epicenter of extreme poverty, urging urgent international aid and long-term engagement just as the United States scales back its support. In its first major report on fragile and conflict-affected states since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank revealed that over 420 million people—including millions in Afghanistan—now live on less than $3 a day, a figure projected to reach 435 million by 2030.
The report found that in countries like Afghanistan, per capita GDP has declined by 1.8% annually since 2020, while other developing nations have seen growth of nearly 3%. Life expectancy is seven years shorter, average schooling is just six years, and food insecurity is skyrocketing. Afghanistan’s economy, already shattered by war and international isolation since the Taliban takeover in 2021, mirrors these dire trends—with poverty entrenched, infrastructure crumbling, and unemployment rampant.
Calling for urgent scaling up of aid, debt relief, and reforms targeting injustice, exclusion, and weak institutions, the World Bank warned that unless decisive action is taken, nearly 60% of the world’s extreme poor will live in conflict zones by 2030. “With sound policies and sustained global engagement, FCS economies can chart a better path toward development,” the report stressed.
