Afghan women turn to wool spinning to survive

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Women who spin wool for a living in Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province say worsening poverty and unemployment have left them with little choice but to rely on exhausting, poorly paid work to survive, according to amu.tv.

Qamar Gul, 70, said wool spinning is her only means of staying alive. Suffering from multiple illnesses, she said she receives no assistance and earns barely enough to buy basic food.

“I spin wool to survive. This is how I earn a piece of bread,” she said. “I am sick and my life problems are many.”

Residents say widespread joblessness and economic hardship have pushed thousands of women in Zabul into wool spinning — labor-intensive work that generates meager income and falls far short of meeting household needs.

Women involved in the trade said spinning one kilogram of yarn takes at least two to three days and earns just 50 afghanis, about 76 cents.

“For one kilogram of yarn, we earn 50 afghanis, and it takes two to three days,” said Arifa, a local resident. “Look at my children — in this winter they do not even have proper clothes. Our life is extremely difficult.”

Another woman, Zargona, said the income is insufficient even for essentials. “What can we do with 50 afghanis?” she said. “Clinics are closed to us, we have no flour, nothing to eat. We are all sitting and waiting for help.”

Local sources said the number of women turning to wool spinning has risen sharply as Afghanistan’s economy continues to contract under Taliban rule, leaving many families dependent on irregular aid and informal labor.

The hardship is compounded during winter, when shortages of income and services deepen suffering for households already struggling to afford food, healthcare and heating.