ISLAMABAD
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on Afghan female aid workers, allowing them to travel without male guardians to provide crucial medical care in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. The September 1 magnitude 6 quake and its aftershocks killed over 2,200 people, injured more than 3,600, and left thousands homeless, compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation.
Dr. Mukta Sharma, WHO’s deputy representative in Afghanistan, highlighted that roughly 90% of medical staff in the affected areas are male, with the remaining female staff often limited to midwives and nurses. This shortage has hindered treatment, as many women are uncomfortable or unable to seek care from male doctors. She warned that restrictions on female staff, combined with the lack of formal exemptions from the Taliban, are preventing an adequate emergency response.
The Taliban, which banned female NGO workers from working outside the home in 2022, has allowed some limited exemptions in health and education, but these are insufficient to meet urgent needs. Sharma stressed the urgency of bringing in more female health workers, particularly to provide mental health support and maternal care for displaced or orphaned women.
Aid organizations are also struggling with funding cuts and damaged infrastructure, further exacerbating the crisis. WHO called on the Taliban to facilitate female participation in relief efforts to ensure women can access critical health services during this emergency.
