Residents of Helmand province say they are facing an increasingly dire economic situation, with soaring unemployment and few opportunities to earn even minimal daily income.
Many locals told Amu TV that finding work has become nearly impossible, forcing families into deepening poverty. Several residents said they are unable to earn even 100 Afghanis (approximately $1.15 USD) per day — a threshold many now see as a fortunate outcome.
“I would be very happy to find a job that pays even 100 Afghanis a day,” said Khyber, a resident of Helmand who supports a six-member household. “Unemployment is severe. Life challenges are piling up, and I have no other source of income. It’s very difficult.”
Local sources confirm that joblessness has reached crisis levels in Helmand. They say thousands of young people are searching for work, but job opportunities have all but disappeared. The lack of income has made it harder for families to meet even their most basic needs.
Abdul Qadir, another resident of Helmand, said his income has dwindled to virtually nothing. “Some days I earn just 20 Afghanis, sometimes only 10,” he said.
“There are no jobs,” said another young man. “The hardships are overwhelming, and I’m sitting here with no opportunity.”
While Helmand is among the hardest-hit provinces, rising unemployment is also being reported across other parts of Afghanistan, compounding the broader economic collapse that followed the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the international community’s subsequent withdrawal.
Many Afghans are now appealing to the United Nations and international donors not to overlook the country’s worsening humanitarian and economic situation.
