KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – A 17-year-old Afghan worker has died after falling from a building while working in Iran, local sources said.
The teenager, identified as Mohammad Naser Dam, fell while working at a construction site on Thursday, October 8, and died, according to the sources.
Dam was a resident of Jamshidi village in Pashtun Kot district of northern Faryab province. Sources said he had travelled to Iran to find work and help cover his family’s living expenses.
Several Afghan workers have previously been reported killed in falls from buildings while working in Iran. Afghan migrants are often employed in hazardous sectors, including construction, where workplace accidents can result in serious injuries and deaths.
The deaths of Afghan workers in Iran highlight the risks faced by people who leave their homes in search of employment and better living conditions. Many young Afghans migrate to Iran because of limited job opportunities, widespread poverty, and a lack of stable income in Afghanistan. For some, working abroad is one of the few ways to support their families and meet basic needs.
Afghanistan continues to face a severe humanitarian and economic crisis following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Persistent poverty, a fragile economy, and limited livelihood opportunities have placed significant pressure on households, pushing many people—particularly young men—to seek work in neighbouring countries. The International Organization for Migration says Afghanistan’s crisis is driven by interconnected challenges, including economic fragility, entrenched poverty, and restrictions on women’s education and employment.
However, migration to Iran has become increasingly precarious as Iranian authorities have intensified deportations and pressure on Afghan nationals to leave the country. According to UNHCR and IOM data, approximately 493,300 Afghans had been deported from Iran to Afghanistan in 2026 as of October 3.
UNHCR has also reported that stricter enforcement against unauthorised employment in Iran has resulted in job losses for many Afghans, while rising prices and declining purchasing power have further strained low-income families.
For Afghans who return after deportation, the lack of employment and financial resources in their home country can make rebuilding their lives difficult. These conditions leave many families caught between the economic hardship they face in Afghanistan and the dangers, uncertain employment, and deportation risks associated with working abroad.
