KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A 19-year-old man has died by suicide in southern Kandahar province, reportedly driven by severe poverty and economic hardship, according to local sources.
The sources identified the victim as Mohammad Yousuf, who ended his life on Saturday, July 5, in the Spin Boldak district. He had reportedly been struggling with financial problems in recent months.
Local Taliban authorities have not commented on the incident.
This marks the second reported suicide in the province that day. In a separate incident, a young woman died by suicide, allegedly due to domestic violence.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, suicide cases—particularly among youth—have surged across Afghanistan. Experts link the rise to growing poverty, unemployment, domestic abuse, and restrictions under Taliban rule.
Millions of Afghans now face food insecurity and lack access to stable employment. According to an investigation by Etilaatroz and KabulNow, 213 men and women died by suicide in 2023—nearly 80% of them under the age of 20.
Rights groups warn that the true toll is likely higher, as many cases remain unreported due to social stigma and Taliban restrictions on media coverage.
