KABUL, June 5 (Xinhua) -- As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, millions in Afghanistan are grappling with deepening poverty, hunger, and economic despair.

Najibullah, a 45-year-old Kabul resident, traveled from northern Kabul to a livestock market in the southern part of the city in hopes of purchasing a sheep for the traditional Eid sacrifice.

"I arrived here at seven in the morning to buy a sheep, but a 20-km animal costs around 13,000 afghani (roughly 186 U.S. dollars). We can't afford it," he told Xinhua in frustration.

Najibullah, the sole provider for a family of five, pointed to frozen Afghan assets abroad as a key factor behind the crisis. "If the Afghan people's frozen assets were released, there would be more job opportunities. More construction projects would take place. People could find work, and our lives would be better," he said.

He estimates that nearly 70 percent of Afghans are unable to afford livestock for Eid al-Adha due to ongoing U.S. sanctions. "Most people's tables are empty because they don't have enough money," Najibullah added as he returned home without making a purchase. Instead of serving lamb, he plans to offer dried fruits to guests this year.

The United Nations has warned that nearly half of Afghanistan's population, about 22.9 million people, will require humanitarian assistance by 2025 as the country struggles to meet both chronic and acute needs.

Naqibullah, a butcher from eastern Wardak Province, travels to Kabul annually ahead of Eid al-Adha to earn a living. "In the past, business was booming, but now, there is barely any work and the job market is taking its last breaths," he explained.

This young butcher visits the market daily, looking for customers until the evening; however, there are no signs of improvement. "This year, our economy is so weak that I can't afford to make a sacrifice myself. Even some of our neighbors can't afford dinner," Naqibullah lamented.

Afghans continue to voice frustration over mounting unemployment and worsening poverty, as approximately 9 billion U.S. dollars of Afghanistan's assets were frozen by the United States in August 2021.

While a few buyers are seen browsing livestock markets in Kabul, many livestock farmers have brought their animals from neighboring provinces, hoping to sell them.

Mohammad Younis, a veteran livestock trader in Kabul with a decade of experience, said this year's Eid market has been the worst he's seen. "People want to buy cattle or sheep, but prices are too high and their wallets are empty, so they leave empty-handed," he said, anxiously scanning the market for potential customers.

Younis blamed the dire situation in part on U.S. policies. He believes decades of conflict and foreign occupation have devastated Afghanistan's economic foundations.

As in other Muslim countries, Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan is traditionally celebrated with animal sacrifices and family visits. But for many this year, it has become a painful reminder of hardship rather than a celebration.

Shakir Yaqubi, an Afghan economist, said that U.S. financial sanctions have crippled Afghanistan's trade and frozen development. "This Eid, for many Afghan families, is a day of economic struggle rather than a festive occasion," he noted. "Without coordinated actions from the government or international community, poverty will deepen, and social divisions will grow."