First let me tell you about the people leaving. Everyone, from ministers to laborers, is trying to leave Afghanistan. You can't find anyone who isn't struggling to find a way to leave. The luckiest ones were already able to get out. Those who worked with Americans, or had a family member in Canada, Australia or some European countries. No one believes in a better future for Afghanistan. All people are thinking about fleeing and struggling to find a way.
In cities, security is disrupted by villains and prisoners who were freed by the Taliban during their offence. Robberies have increased, in fact, our neighbor's house was robbed last night.
Poverty is rampant. People's lives are such that they work during the day and eat at night. Construction work has stopped and the recession has increased. Living conditions for teachers and government employees are no better than those of laborers, because their wages are so low, $100 per month, and that’s not enough for one month. Now, for the last months there has been no pay, everything is paralyzed.
Numerable banks are open in Kabul but closed in other provinces. However the banks are short of money. Hundreds of people are queueing and waiting in front of the banks. The central bank made a new policy yesterday that customers can withdraw only $200 from their account a week.
The majority of journalists have fled the country or are in hiding. In place of the former reporters, we are witnessing new reporters on TV. Journalistic activity has diminished considerably. These new journalists only report the declarations of the Taliban. There are three factors responsible for this diminishing of their activities: the escape and hiding of journalists, restrictions on what is allowed to be reported, and an inability to verify sources.
As Fatima Faizi, an Afghan journalist, tweeted: "Call me angry if you want, but I covered this bloody war for 7 years. Afghan journalists were on the front line of every attack with no protection. And today they are forced to remain silent. All you see is by foreign journalists, who never challenge the Taliban. why? And let's not forget about the prizes that they will win this year for "risking their lives". F... this world".
***
As my friend who is trapped in Helmand makes clear, the situation on the ground in Afghanistan is worsening. It pains me to be here on the other side of the world, powerless to help in any way but one -- by posting his letters.
A small number of people have been helping me to receive, process, edit and publish these letters. I won't mention them by name because this entire process must remain secret for now.
But for one confidant in particular, this third letter was especially disruptive because of the time differences not only between Helmand and San Francisco but where she is currently, roughly halfway between the two.
At some future date when it's possible to name her, I will, but for now I owe her a gratitude as deep and ineffable as my affection.
***
THE HEADLINES:
* Hurricane Ida, a Powerful Category 4 Storm, Batters Louisiana -- White-capped waves appeared on the Mississippi River as winds uprooted trees, tore roofs from buildings and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands across the state.(NYT)
* Ida hits Louisiana with a fierce blow -- There were reports of downed power lines, levee failures and flooding, collapsed buildings, and trapped residents on rooftops. Power remained out for nearly 1 million people. (WP)
* VIDEO: ‘I Won’t Go 20 Years Back in Time’: Young Afghan Women Speak Out -- A boxer. A singer. A journalist. Three young women found success in Kabul, Afghanistan. When the Taliban took the city, their dreams and lives were shattered. (NYT)
* When the Refugees Landed -- Evacuees from Afghanistan filed out of the airport security checkpoint quietly, a few groups every 20 minutes: men in beige waistcoats, veiled women with curly-haired babies, toddlers clutching juice boxes. (Atlantic)
* As resettlement efforts advance, some Afghans face an uncertain future (WP)
* Taliban Takeover Throws Afghan Economy Into Chaos (WSJ)
* U.S. Conducts Drone Strike in Kabul and Winds Down Airlift as Deadline Nears (NYT)
* 2 Marines’ deaths in Kabul underscore evolving roles of women in the military (WP)
* ‘What Will Happen to Me?’ An Uncertain Future Awaits Afghans Who Fled -- Tens of thousands clambered onto evacuation planes bound for Qatar. Many are now in limbo in overflowing processing centers, fearful of what comes next. (NYT)
* Operation Babylift: A frantic Saigon rescue effort is echoed in Kabul’s chaos (WP)
* 98 Countries Pledge to Accept Afghans After U.S. Military Departs (NYT)
* Rockets target U.S. troops as final Kabul withdrawal begins, core diplomats fly out (Reuters)
* Marine says he’ll resign after being relieved of command for calling out leaders on Afghanistan (WP)
* Afghan health system at risk of collapse after foreign donors stopped providing aid to the country, a representative of Doctors Without Borders said. (Reuters)s
* The race to rescue Florida’s diseased corals (WP)
* Lake Tahoe threatened by massive fire, more ordered to flee (AP)
* California's Caldor fire moves closer to more heavily populated areas (Reuters)
* How climate change helped make Hurricane Ida one of Louisiana’s worst (WP)
* VIDEO: Louisiana’s Covid Surge Complicates Its Response to Hurricane Ida -- As the Category 4 storm slammed the state, Gov. John Bel Edwards said that evacuating hospitals was not an option because of the high number of coronavirus patients. (AP)
* When the New Covid Surge Struck, Mississippi Was Uniquely Unprepared (NYT)
* China Sets New Rule for Youth: No More Videogames During the School Week (WSJ)
* The deep ties between the Paralympics and the U.S. military — and what they mean (WP)
* California's Recall is a Blow to Democratic Change (WP)
* Elizabeth Holmes' trial is set to begin (CNN)
* Actor who twice had the role of a lifetime as newsman Lou Grant dies at 91 (WP)
* Universal Studios sets opening for first theme park in China (AP)
* There’s no escape from Facebook, even if you don’t use it (WP)
خداوند به مردم افغانستان برکت دهد
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