According to a new report by Al Jazeera, the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s work have created major obstacles to delivering aid to female residents in earthquake-affected areas.
Published on Saturday, September 27, the report notes that over 90 percent of healthcare workers in these regions are men, with only a few women such as midwives and nurses present. Even those women often lack the necessary training to effectively care for the injured, leaving female victims facing serious challenges in accessing help.
The shortage of female doctors, particularly for pregnant women and young girls, has worsened the already dire health conditions. Al Jazeera highlights that the Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on women’s employment had already drawn significant domestic and international criticism before this crisis.
Beyond the lack of female medical staff, displaced women also face inadequate facilities in camps, such as the absence of separate restrooms and unsanitary conditions. These issues, combined with poor crisis management, have placed an additional burden on women and girls affected by the disaster.
Despite the urgent need for medical and humanitarian services, the Taliban’s inhumane bans on women’s work have made effective aid delivery to half the population nearly impossible. The report calls for immediate attention and accountability from international and humanitarian organizations.
