Dozens of Afghan women took to the streets in Kabul on Wednesday morning to protest the continued hold on Afghan bank assets by the US amid an economic crisis in Afghanistan.

One banner carried by the women reads: “Our children want food, release our money.”

The protesters called on the US to free up Afghan bank assets to prevent the further deterioration of the situation.

They also called on the international community to lobby for the release of the bank assets by the US.

“Afghanistan’s frozen money should be released. It belongs to the people of Afghanistan, not to the current government. Our children demand food from us, we do not have money to pay for our rent. We should go back to work,” said Nasima Amiri, a civil society activist.

“The US should release the frozen money of Afghanistan so the people of Afghanistan can cope with the economic problems in the winter,” said Mahnaz Khadimi, a protester.

The protesters read aloud a number of demands calling on both the Islamic Emirate and the international community to address their needs.

“The international community should put into practice its human rights slogans and in a united way should advocate for the release of our money. The US should free the frozen assets of Afghanistan immediately without any conditions,” a protester read. “The Afghans are facing more challenges today than any time before and the international community should not stay silent and impartial. They should provide any sort of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.”

The protesters said the flow of Afghan refugees into the neighboring countries and Europe is rooted in economic problems. They said if Afghanistan is not supported economically, the migrations will increase, which will have negative consequences on the stability of countries beyond Afghanistan.

The protesters also called on the UN and the World Bank to find a solution for the looming economic crisis in Afghanistan.

The protesters also called on the Islamic Emirate to fulfill its responsibility in terms of providing job opportunities for the people and preventing further economic problems. “The Islamic Emirate should appoint professional and competent individuals to run the country’s affairs,” the list read.

The Islamic Emirate should design and implement economic plans and should work with the world to improve the economy of the country, the protesters said.