WHO Appeals for Female Travel and Aid in Afghanistan After Earthquake
The World Health Organization (WHO) made a call on Monday to the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan, urging them to allow women to travel without needing male guardians and to supply humanitarian assistance to female earthquake victims. This comes in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck on September 1st.
Dr. Mukta Sharma, president of WHO in Afghanistan, expressed concern, stating, “The huge problem now is increasing the shortage of female staff at these locations.” She noted that most medical staff in the earthquake-impacted regions are male, while many of the female professionals are fully qualified doctors. More female doctors, she argued, would help alleviate the fear many women have in dealing with male practitioners in the aftermath of the disaster.
Sharma pointed out that the Taliban’s regulations, which restrict women from traveling alone, complicate their ability to seek medical assistance. Furthermore, reports indicate that these gender restrictions are exacerbating the hardships faced by women in Afghanistan.
According to the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, women may only have physical contact with their husbands and certain male relatives. As a result, many women remain trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings from the earthquake, unable to be rescued by male responders.
India Today highlighted that female survivors, including some severely injured, have been left in precarious situations amidst the rubble.
A woman shared her feelings of neglect, stating she felt “pushed aside” while men and boys were prioritized for treatment. Rescue volunteers noted that women were often overlooked and left waiting for care.
The number of female rescue workers is limited due to the ban on women pursuing education in medicine and other advanced fields imposed by the Taliban in 2023. Observers have commented on the stark absence of female staff in hospitals across Afghanistan, particularly in treating earthquake survivors.
Maternity care has become critically challenging, as the UN estimates at least 11,600 pregnant women are in urgent need of support in the earthquake zone. The Taliban’s restrictions extend to women working in foreign humanitarian organizations, which includes harassment and intimidation of female UN staff by their employers.
“The limit is huge,” Sharma stated, stressing the ongoing challenges and lack of official exemptions from the authorities. She emphasized the need for advocating increased female healthcare representation to meet the pressing demands.
The death toll from the September 1st earthquake has surpassed 2,200, with around 3,600 more injured. Many homes have been destroyed, forcing survivors into tents and temporary shelters as they contemplate whether to return to their villages, fearing the Taliban’s inadequate handling of the disaster response.
