The World Bank recently released its Poverty Status Update report on Afghanistan for 2013-2014 and said the results on unemployment and poverty was worrying.

According to the report, the rate of unemployment had risen in 2013 and 2014 against previous years.

The report also stated that insecurity and unemployment were the main reasons behind poverty and currently the poverty rate is higher in provinces than in the cities.

The Ministry of Economy (MoE) accepted there were challenges, but said progress has been made in the past two years in a bid to improve the situation.

“The current economic status of the country has been better than 2013-2014. We know that problems existed in some sectors, but efforts are ongoing to address the challenges,” MoE spokesman Suhrab Bahman said.

Officials from the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) meanwhile said insecurity and kidnappings has forced some investors to take their money abroad and that it has also added to the rate of unemployment and poverty.

“Insecurity and other investment challenges are worrying and if this situation continues, the problems will increase,” ACCI deputy head, Khan Jan Alokozay said.

According to the World Bank report, if unemployment, poverty and lack of health and education services continues, the achievements of the last 15 years will be at risk.