UN Chief Slams Taliban Ban on Female Aid Workers
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s participation in humanitarian operations, calling the move intolerable and “an act of folly.”
Speaking at a press conference in New York, Guterres referred to earthquake-affected areas in eastern Afghanistan, particularly Kunar province, saying that excluding women from aid delivery is not only irrational but also has severe negative consequences for people’s lives.
He warned that removing women from humanitarian frameworks deprives large segments of society—especially women and children—of vital assistance, further worsening the crisis.
Guterres added that the United Nations is using all its capacities and mobilizing global support to convince the Taliban that women’s participation in humanitarian programs is essential, stressing that aid delivery cannot be effective without their involvement.
