The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked the Taliban to lift restrictions on female aid workers in Afghanistan. This would allow women to travel without male guardians and provide care to women affected by a recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
A magnitude 6 earthquake on September 1 killed 2,200 people and injured over 3,600. Many women are unable to receive proper medical care because most health staff are men, and women are uncomfortable or not allowed to be treated by male staff or travel alone.
About 90% of medical staff in the area are men. Female health workers are mostly midwives and nurses, with few available doctors. The Taliban had restricted female NGO workers from working outside home since 2022, but some exceptions exist in health and education. However, these are limited and do not support emergency needs.
WHO’s deputy representative in Afghanistan, Dr. Mukta Sharma, said that the male guardian rule remains strict and no formal exemptions have been given by Taliban authorities. WHO has requested loosening these rules to bring more female health workers to help with emergency response and care.
The lack of female medical staff also affects mental health services and care for women who lost male family members. The Taliban have also barred females from high school and university, leading to fewer female doctors in the future.
The UN estimates 11,600 pregnant women were affected by the quake. Health facilities are closing due to funding cuts and earthquake damage. Around 80 health centers closed earlier this year because of U.S. aid cuts, and 16 more were damaged by the quake.