Afghan mines among the world's most dangerous

Afghanistan has huge mineral deposits, but the underground wealth is unlikely to enrich vulnerable workers.

Kabul, Afghanistan - When residents near the Abkhorak mine in northern Afghanistan heard of the coal mine's collapse, they immediately rushed to free the 57 miners trapped beneath the debris.

Lacking the necessary equipment - shovels, pick-axes and masks - they began to dig through the rubble and debris with their bare hands. Within hours of the collapse, 20 of the civilian rescuers found themselves choking from the dirt and fumes released into the air.

The Saturday afternoon collapse in the Ruyi Du Ab district of Samangan province served as yet another reminder of the dangers inherent in Afghanistan's mining sector, often thought to be one of the nation's last great economic hopes.

This what happens when a majority of the population lives  on less than one dollar per day even with large amounts of international aid.  Most of this aid never reaches those in  need thanks to corruption at all levels of the Afghan government which is considered one of the most corrupt in the world.

Organised crime involved

Though Afghanistan's mineral deposits are estimated to be worth trillions of dollars, Noorani said copper and gemstones, which are most likely to have been illegally excavated, are sold at a pittance to Pakistan by the "large mafia" that runs much of the illegal mining in the nation.

Coal and gemstones mined in Samangan and Takhar provinces, in the north, are brought to the capital, where they are sold to illegal traders in Deh Sabz district who then transport the minerals to the Torkham border and eventually into Pakistan.

When told of the low prices Afghan minerals are sold to Pakistan for, Noorani said Kabul often reply that their hands "are tied" by the force and complicity of militia leaders and parliamentarians.