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Poverty and unemployment drive children in Nangarhar out of classrooms
Officials at Nangarhar’s Department of Labor and Social Affairs insist they are making progress, noting that recent initiatives have begun to reduce the number of working children.
Worsening poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province are forcing thousands of children into hard labor, depriving many of them of the education they need to break the cycle of hardship.
In Jalalabad city alone, dozens of children can be seen working in the streets from dawn to dusk — polishing shoes, selling goods, or collecting recyclables — instead of attending school.
For many, their daily income determines whether their families can afford a single loaf of bread. Some are the sole breadwinners for their households, saying they have no choice but to work in order to provide what they describe as a “halal livelihood” for their loved ones.
Civil society activists describe the trend as alarming and warn that the number of child laborers continues to grow. They are calling for comprehensive, sustained programs to remove children from exploitative work and return them to classrooms.
Officials at Nangarhar’s Department of Labor and Social Affairs insist they are making progress, noting that recent initiatives have begun to reduce the number of working children.
One effort by the Islamic Emirate involves gathering child laborers and providing them with vocational training. However, experts caution that such measures fall far short of the scale of support and educational access needed to protect children’s welfare.
Afghanistan is in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with decades of conflict, economic collapse, and natural disasters driving millions into poverty.
The UN estimates that more than half of the population faces acute food insecurity, while unemployment remains widespread. In rural and urban areas alike, families often rely on children to supplement or replace lost income, perpetuating a cycle in which poverty forces children out of school and into low-paid, hazardous work.
The cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has approved a report on the spending of the national development budget, following deliberations at its 14th meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund.
According to a statement issued by the Arg on Tuesday, the cabinet endorsed the development budget expenditure report and instructed relevant ministries and departments to ensure that allocated funds are spent on planned projects in a timely manner and in line with approved development plans.
The meeting also reviewed a range of key economic, social and cultural issues. Cabinet members emphasized the need for proper implementation of development activities and adherence to established timelines.
In addition, discussions were held on challenges facing refugees, with relevant authorities directed to identify and implement appropriate solutions to address their concerns.
Sadin Ayyıldız, the new head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, met in an introductory visit with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Ayyıldız described relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and emphasized the expansion of cooperation in economic and health fields, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Muttaqi also wished Ayyildiz success, described Turkey as a close friend of Afghanistan, and assessed bilateral relations as being on a path of progress.
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Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation
Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Physical Education Committee, met Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufiq Hidayat, during an official visit to Indonesia held alongside the Asian Cup competitions.
The talks focused on strengthening sports cooperation, including improving access for Afghan athletes living in Indonesia to local leagues and training camps.
Hidayat described the meeting as a positive step toward closer sporting ties and stressed the need for continued engagement.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Saadullah Baloch, also attended the meeting, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy in bilateral relations. Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
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