The US envoy Linda Thomas Greenfield to the UN said, 11.6 million women are no longer getting vital assistance in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban’s decision to ban women from contributing to humanitarian aid efforts is already having terrible consequences. According to the UN, 11.6 million women and girls in Afghanistan are no longer receiving vital assistance. This dangerous, oppressive ban must be reversed,” Thomas-Greenfield tweeted.
After banning university education for women, the Taliban issued a decree banning women from working in non-governmental organizations on December 24.
UN High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi called the heads of the humanitarian groups together for calling out Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to reverse its directive that abandons women from working with NGOs.
“Preventing women from humanitarian work is a grave denial of their humanity. It will only result in further suffering and hardship for all Afghans, especially women and children. This ban must be lifted,” Grandi said in a UNHCR statement.
According to the UN agency, approximately a million women and girls are served by the 19 NGO partners of UNHCR in Afghanistan, which employs more than 500 women. The UN Refugee Agency will temporarily cease essential operations in support of Afghan citizens, particularly women and children, due to the most recent limitations.
