FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): After Taliban took control of Yamgan district in northeastern Badakhshan province which forced hundreds of families to leave their homes, the rest of the residents were facing acute food shortage, an official said on Monday.
The schools in the district were shut and thousands of students deprived of education, director education said.
Attaullah said the situation turned horrible as the prices of food items went up and the resident started eating grass due to lack of foods.
The Yamgan district fell to Taliban 10 days back; however, security forces claimed they had retreated tactically.
According to Attaullah, the price of 50 kilograms of sugar was 1,200 afghanis but now it surged to 4,000. Similarly the price of a bottle of oil was 100 afghanis and now it went up to 500 afghanis.
He said two boys and as many girls school remained closed which deprived 5,000 students from attending their classes.
As many as 600 individuals had fled the area after it fell to Taliban and got shelter in areas under security forces control.
But Ahmad Navid Farotan, the governor’s spokesman, said provincial officials along with Army Chief Lt. Col. Qadam Shah Shahim had visited Yamgan district late on Sunday and assured residents to purge the area of insurgents.
Earlier, Provincial Council Chief Abdullah Naji Nazari had said the district fell after reinforcements failed to reach on time. He hoped the district would be recaptured soon.
Taliban have not issued any fresh statement on Yamgan fate but he insurgents’ group had earlier claimed 18 security personnel were killed, several others wounded and huge cache of arms seized during fighting for control of Yamgan.
nh/rm
