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From Our Own Correspondent

Thwarted hopes in Afghanistan

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2022

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Since the Taliban took power last year, more than half a million Afghans have lost their jobs, and the country now faces a severe economic crisis. There was a glimmer of hope for secondary school girls this week though as they prepared to go back to school - but it was short-lived, says Secunder Kermani. Allan Little reflects on the parallels between this war and a previous conflict, in the former Yugoslavia, where cities also came under siege as Serbian nationalists sought to take back control of the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bosnians, like the Ukrainians, while out-powered, put up a courageous resistance, and, in that conflict, Nato ultimately decided to intervene. International observers are increasingly worried that a cash-strapped Palestinian Authority could face financial collapse. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund described the fiscal outlook as “dire." Meanwhile vital healthcare services are being dramatically affected. Yolande Knell visited a hospital in East Jerusalem. Texas has the most restrictive abortion law in the United States. But for some Texans the law doesn’t go far enough – they want a complete ban. The campaign to outlaw abortion altogether is being played out in towns across this huge state led by evangelical Christians. Linda Pressly visits west Texas to meet some of the activists. Oaxaca city in Mexico has become a much-desired location for destination weddings for both Europeans and North Americans. But the community there is divided over whether this is a helpful source of income for the locals, or an exercise in exploitation which ends up eroding the indigenous culture and customs finds Louis Harnett O’Meara. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts

0:05.3

Today we're in East Jerusalem where a hospital has turned away hundreds of patients as the

0:11.2

Palestinian Authority faces its worst financial crisis in decades. We're in a small town

0:17.9

in Texas, one of many at the forefront of the campaign to ban abortion under any circumstances.

0:25.6

In Mexico, amid a fanfare of trumpets and symbols, we hear how Wahaka has become a desirable

0:32.1

wedding destination, but at what cost? And what can the Balkans war tell us about President

0:38.4

Putin's invasion of Ukraine, or correspond and reflect on the conflict from the 1990s?

0:45.0

First, Afghanistan. It's nearly seven months since the Taliban seized power after a staggeringly

0:52.3

swift defeat of Afghan government-led forces. The crisis saw millions of Afghans flee the

0:58.6

country, along with foreign nationals. Since they took power more than half a million

1:03.6

of those Afghans who remained have lost their jobs. And with the country now in severe

1:08.5

economic crisis, the UN estimates 97% of the population is at risk of sinking below

1:15.0

the poverty line. But there had been a brief moment of hope for secondary schoolgirls

1:20.6

this week, as they look forward to returning to the classroom for the first time since

1:25.5

the Taliban closed their schools. Sokunda Kamani joined students as they prepared for their

1:32.0

first day back.

1:34.4

I feel happy again. I feel I can be hopeful about the future again. 15-year-old Marzia

1:39.8

told me, as we walked through the dusty grounds of the say they'll shahar the school.

1:45.5

Secondary schoolgirls like her, across most of Afghanistan, had not been allowed back

1:49.6

into the classroom since last August after the Taliban took control of the country. Though

1:55.2

from Marzia it had been even longer. Last May her school in the shea dominated west

2:01.5

of Kabul was attacked by the local branch of the Islamic State group. More than 90 people

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