For nearly four years, 16-year-old Ali Mohammad Reza put on a plastic helmet fitted with a small battery-powered torch and headed into the Dar-e-Sof coal mines of Samangan province in northern Afghanistan.
He was one of hundreds of youths who risk their lives working in mines across the country. Children, some as young as 4, are employed because they are able to squeeze into small spaces underground and extract the "black gold", a primary source of fuel in Afghanistan.
Mohammad said he would help to dig a tunnel tall enough to lead a donkey into and "continue digging until we hit a rock or dead end".
It was very hard to breathe and it made our heads hurt
Mohammad's younger brother, Ali Reza, was only 10 when he joined his sibling in the mines two years ago.
“I worked with people younger than me, some were only 8 years old,” he said.
“They would send us to extremely tiny spots to dig, because adults wouldn’t fit there. In some places, even donkeys wouldn’t fit so the only option was to send us kids.”
The brothers were paid between 6,000 and 10,000 afghanis ($78 to $130) per month and were the only breadwinners in their family.
They left their jobs at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic after several accidents at the mines. They were also suffering health problems, including breathing difficulties.
“The deeper you go, the more you are exposed to these very harmful gasses. It was very hard to breathe and it made our heads hurt. I couldn’t sleep at night. I would have body pains and nausea,” Mohammad said.
He said injuries were common and there were times he would remain in bed for weeks while he recovered.
The introduction of machinery to speed up the digging meant the work was increasingly dangerous and several mines in Samangan collapsed in the past year.
“This particular machine vibrates the whole mountain over the mines, which makes the risk of collapse very high. I lost many friends in the last collapse. It was then that we decided to leave,” Mohammad said.
He is looking for a new way to support his family, while Ali has gone back to school.
But Abdul Fatah Ahmadzai, spokesman for the Afghan Labour Ministry, estimates there are still 2.3 million children working as labourers in the country. Officials suggest that about 300 children aged 16 or younger are employed in Dar-e-Sof alone.
Financial hardship forces hundreds of children to remain in the workforce, especially in the mining sector where they are exploited for their size.
Mohammad Naeem, 45, who is from Samangan, works in the mines alongside his two sons – Faizmad, 16, and Razmad, 4.
"This is the only option. There is nothing else for me to do to support our family of 10," Mr Naeem said.
His job involves using gunpowder to blast parts of the mountain.
“I have been injured so many times. Look at my hands, I hardly have any nails left. I have injuries all over my body,” he said.
As he spoke his younger son, who is less than a metre tall, carried a rock across the field.
Despite the risk of life-altering injuries or even death, Mr Naeem said he had no option but to pass on the trade to his sons. Faizmad dropped out of school to begin work, while Razmad is unlikely to be enrolled anytime soon.
“This work can’t be done by just one person. Together we make around $8 to $9 per day, which helps us survive and feed the family,” Mr Naeem said.
Years of increasing poverty normalised child labour in the country, but the effects of the pandemic means more families feel forced to send their kids to work, Mariam Atahi, spokeswoman at Save the Children in Afghanistan, said.
Ms Atahi cited World Bank data and said child labour was increasing because about 64 per cent of the country lived in poverty.
“It is very concerning and overwhelming to hear from children who are working in mines instead of being in school. They are another generation who are losing their childhood,” she said.
The Afghan government passed laws to stop child labour but had been unsuccessful in enforcing them, especially in the mining sector.
The Taliban control large portions of the mining regions in the north, or block the trade routes from these areas and collect taxes from businesses.
Mine owners continue to flout safety regulations and labour laws to maximise profit in the absence of government control.
“It is the responsibility of the security agencies to prevent child labour in the mining sector. Many of the mines are illegal,” Mr Ahmadzai said.
“Another 8,000 children work in brick kilns in Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Mazar and Kandahar.”
Ms Atahi urges the government to implement the law more strictly, while also advocating for stronger support for the children. “This is a good beginning in protecting children who were exploited for labour or trafficked. We are also advocating at the national and international levels to provide assistance to those who’ve lost their guardians due to war to ensure they are not forced to work as child labourers, and instead stay in school,” she said.
“If the Afghan government and international community do not pay attention to this, we will lose a generation who can be a part of progress and development in Afghanistan,” Ms Atahi warned.
For Reza, quitting the mines and rejoining school, although a difficult financial decision, has brought hope for a brighter future. “I want to focus on my studies, and complete my education and be doctor someday,” he said, sitting across from his brother who will continue to seek work to support his siblings’ aspirations.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The five pillars of Islam
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
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The five pillars of Islam
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Read more about the coronavirus
TEST SQUADS
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.
57%20Seconds
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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More coverage from the Future Forum
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on Quran memorisation:
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
