Afghanistan's economic collapse could prompt refugee crisis - IMF

A man rides a car filled with vegetables and fruits for sale at the market in Kabul, Afghanistan October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

ALMATY (Reuters) - Afghanistan's economy is set to contract up to 30% this year and this is likely to further fuel a refugee crisis that will impact neighbouring countries, Turkey and Europe, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

With non-humanitarian aid halted and foreign assets largely frozen after the Taliban seized power in August, Afghanistan’s aid-reliant economy "faces severe fiscal and balance-of-payments crises", it said in its regional economic outlook update.