Afghanistan is experiencing the lowest levels of well-being in history, especially after the recent Taliban takeover. A study revealed a life satisfaction score of just 1.28, the worst globally since 1946. Coupled with a dismal hope score of 1.02, this situation highlights the despair faced by Afghans. The findings suggest a dire need for attention to basic needs and rights as the country enters a challenging recovery phase.
Recent research has painted a grim picture of life in Afghanistan, showing that the country has reached unprecedented lows in overall well-being. According to findings, life satisfaction among Afghans plummeted to just 1.28 on a scale of 0 to 10 in the aftermath of U.S. troop withdrawal, the lowest recorded anywhere globally since 1946. The report suggests that this drastic decline follows the Taliban’s return to power in 2022, leaving the population in distress.
The study highlights that while the global average life satisfaction rating last year was around 5.48, Afghans reported feelings of hopelessness even lower than their dissatisfaction with life. Hope for their futures, measured on the same scale, fell to a dismal 1.02. This stark contrast illustrates the profound despair that many Afghans are currently facing in their daily lives, as the echoes of two decades of conflict continue to resonate.
Historically, the War in Afghanistan started in 2001 following the refusal of the Taliban to surrender al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks. This conflict brought about violence that led to the death of over 165,000 Afghans in direct confrontations alone, and many others suffered due to basic needs like food and medicine being unavailable.
Levi Stutzman, the lead researcher from the University of Toronto, commented on the differences seen in Afghanistan’s populace compared to global trends: “Globally, people expect their future to be better than their present. In Afghanistan, that’s not the case.” He emphasized that the current levels of distress are indicative of lasting trauma and a failure to support citizens left behind.
This research casts a spotlight on the emotional toll that war and political instability impose on a population, suggesting that their well-being is influenced not just by individual actions but significantly by larger structural factors. Doctoral student Stutzman reiterated, “A lot of it is structural,” underlining the notion that happiness isn’t purely an individual pursuit.
Data for this study were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted at three different times: before the U.S. withdrawal in 2018-2019, during the troop withdrawal and initial Taliban rule in 2021, and after the final U.S. exit in 2022. Interestingly, while life satisfaction figures stood at 2.69 in 2018, they did not decline significantly during the early withdrawal phase in 2021. However, with the consolidation of Taliban rule after the withdrawal, there was a sharp drop to historical lows.
In 2022, the majority of Afghans reported life satisfaction scores below five, with about two-thirds giving a score of zero or one. A deeper dive into the data indicated that women and rural communities are bearing the brunt of these challenges, facing heightened restrictions from the Taliban and fewer resources to tackle food insecurity.
Moreover, the researchers noted that the struggles of the Afghan people have been notably absent from global media as the situation evolved. Dr. Felix Cheung, a co-author of the study, stressed that the end of war doesn’t equate to the resolution of issues. “That is the first step of a very long recovery process,” he warned, calling for much-needed investment in healthcare, food, water, and infrastructure to support healing in Afghanistan.
The research underscores a critical state of despair in Afghanistan, characterized by record-low life satisfaction and hope. It highlights the human cost of long-term conflict and stresses the need for structural changes to uplift the populace. Without addressing basic needs and rights, the path to recovery in Afghanistan remains daunting. As the nation grapples with its future under Taliban rule, awareness and support from the international community will be crucial in aiding recovery efforts.
Original Source: www.lhindependent.com
