Economic downturn taking its toll on Tajikistan

The news has been full of reports on how the economic super powers are suffering under the current economic recession. The impact of the recession has however widespread implications as even the poverty stricken people of Tajikistan struggle to make ends meet.

The locals of Tajikistan have many sad tales to tell and tough times to see through at the moment. Take the story of Bibisoro Sayiddova, a mother of five, now desperately trying to find a way to feed her children after her husband has stopped receiving his wages in Russia. Her husband is currently working as a loader of dry fruit sacks in Moscow without any promise of payments.

The troubled mother of five said “Sometimes I cry when the kids don’t have socks or coats,” commenting on her husbands job she said “We’re still hoping he’ll get paid.”

The global financial crisis that has managed to jolt the world’s strongest economies is now starting to take its toll on the poorer nations. The very first to feel the impact of the economic crunch are labor migrants. Such people work in the developed lands with families to support in their underdeveloped home country. With their employers unable to pay them their wages they have families starving back home.

The influx of remittances has slowed down since the fall season this year. This decline has come after years of substantial growth. The gradual slow down is expected to take on a snowball effect in the year 2009 when the economic crisis comes into full bloom.

Mexico is another country that is beginning to suffer from the impacts of economic downturn. The regions of North Africa and the Middle East are expected to be amongst the nations that will be severely impacted by the crisis in the year 2009. The slowdown in Europe and the Persian Gulf is going to have a major impact on these regions.

A senior economist of the World Bank was recorded as saying “There’s definitely a serious moderation in the growth of remittances,” For countries like Tajikistan that are heavily dependant on remittances the future paints a very grim picture.