Afghans Turn to Riverbed Gold Hunting in Kunar as Jobs Remain Scarce

DID Press: Hundreds of residents in Kunar Province have turned to searching for gold particles in dry riverbeds as unemployment persists, transforming a labor-intensive activity into a critical source of livelihood.

In areas such as Khas Kunar District and Ghaziabad District, workers use basic tools like shovels and sieves to extract gravel and sand from riverbeds, washing the material with water to isolate tiny gold fragments.

Local residents say that under optimal conditions, a worker may recover up to one gram of gold per week—worth roughly 8,000 Afghanis, or about $125—providing modest but vital income for families facing limited employment opportunities.

Some laborers also operate in mountainous areas, breaking rocks and transporting them downhill for repeated sifting and washing in hopes of finding trace amounts of gold.

According to local authorities, these traditional mining activities have continued for more than a decade, with thousands of people now engaged in small-scale extraction. Officials permit manual methods but are working to prevent the use of heavy machinery due to environmental risks.

Despite possessing significant natural resource reserves, Afghanistan has struggled to fully develop its mining sector after decades of conflict. In recent years, authorities have sought to attract both domestic and foreign investment to expand resource extraction and stimulate economic growth.