by Abdul Haleem, Yangtze Yan
KABUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- "Continued militancy, chaotic situation and poverty have destroyed my life and I hope 2012 would be a year of peace, reconciliation and prosperity," said Mohammad Ali, a daily wager.
Ali, 33, who graduated from grade 12 but failed to receive higher education, said the protracted war had deprived him of going into university.
"War and poverty have deprived me of going to university and that is why I am working as a daily wager today and cannot feed my family properly," the dejected Ali murmured.
He did not mention his monthly income, but said about 15 days out of a month he is idle.
Afghans often celebrate their own New Year, known as Nowroz which mostly falls on March 21. The majority of Afghans are unfamiliar with the Gregorian year, but Ali who is educated and familiar with the New Year celebration wishes 2012 a year of peace and reconciliation."
"My utmost wish in my life is to see lasting peace in my country that allows all the children to go to school in a peaceful environment without any fear," said a child named Abdul Khaliq.
"The endemic security incidents and poverty have prevented me from entering school. My dream is to see other children go to school," Khaliq, 16, told Xinhua in a brief chat.
Khaliq also called on the government to alleviate poverty.
Even though there is no official statistics on unemployment rate, Afghan Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Mohammad Asif Rahimi said last October that more than 30 percent of Afghanistan' s some 26 million population live under poverty line.
"I hope the New Year would bring peace to Afghanistan and to my family. I hope I would do better for myself and my family as well. May there be no pain and no sorrow in 2012," said Tahmina, 22, an undergraduate student at Kabul University.
At Kabul squares, dozens of Afghans are searching for jobs in the morning in the militancy-plagued country.
"The continued instability has forced us to beg on the streets, besides claiming the lives of our people," said Hajji Syed Mohammad, 62, adding that suicide attacks and roadside bombings kill civilians almost every day.
"In addition to praying for peace in 2012, I am calling on the government to take steps towards poverty alleviation and creating job opportunities," said Syed Mohammad in a roadside caff.
Afghans also suffer from poverty in the war-plagued country.
"Besides studying in Kabul University I also work on street to earn my expenditure," said Abdul Rahim Mangal.
Mangal, 24, expressed dissatisfaction with the living condition, and called on the government to take necessary steps to ensure security and justice in the country.
"My biggest wish in 2012 is to see lasting peace, welfare and progress of Afghans", said the student.
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