Afghan women keep food on table by selling ice cream on streets

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 28: A group of Afghan women earn a living by selling ice cream on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, and encourage others to fight poverty by taking part in activities in the country, which has faced numerous financial and other woes since the Taliban took power last August. Since the Taliban retook control of the country, most Afghan women have lost their jobs in both the public and private sectors, and their visibility on the streets has also been greatly reduced, owing to the strict Taliban laws that encourage women to fully cover themselves, normally in a burqa, an all-covering garment. In Kabul, however, six women wearing veils, sunglasses, and gloves are challenging the status quo. They serve ice cream at various locations throughout the day to keep food on the table, proving that women can still work and contribute to their families. On July 26, an international conference on Afghanistan was held in neighboring Uzbekistan demanding that the US unfreeze some $9.5 billion for the poverty-stricken country, which had recently been shaken by earthquakes that killed over 1,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes. According to the UN, more than half of the Afghan population – approximately 22 million people – is suffering from acute hunger, while 5.7 million displaced Afghans in five neighboring countries require immediate assistance this year. The Taliban have also frequently urged the international community to provide funding and assist in averting a humanitarian disaster. However, since last October the US has committed nearly $782 million in aid for Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in the region. (Footage by Bilal Güler/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)