Afghanistan, three NGOs have resumed work with women in the field of health and nutrition

ROME – L’International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children to CARE they restarted some health and nutrition projects in Afghanistan, after receiving assurances from the Taliban that women could work without problems. Last December 24, the Taliban had decided to prevent women from working in local and foreign humanitarian organizations because – they explained – many workers did not respect the rules on clothing. The move was globally condemned. As a result, the NGOs have stopped their activities, since without women’s work they would not have been able to reach the other women of the country, especially those who live in the countryside and in the most remote areas. However, the Ministry of Public Health last week decided to allow female health personnel and those working in administrative roles to return to work.

The resumption of NGO activities. L’International Rescue Committee has restarted some projects in the field of health and nutrition in four provinces of the country. He did the same thing Save the Children, after having received guarantees that the workers would not suffer retaliation. The Organizations have resumed only a few projects, because the ban on women’s work still remains throughout the country and consequently many of the activities will continue to be suspended until the Taliban decide to make a complete U-turn.

The humanitarian crisis. In a note, Save the Children writes that it is providing vital assistance services, but they are only the tip of the iceberg of what the country needs at the moment. Indeed, Afghanistan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in history, with half of the thirty-eight million inhabitants almost starving and three million children at risk of malnutrition.

International pressures. The international community has urged the government to back down, because banning women from working would have led to further hardships and problems for the population. A few days ago the Taliban decided to ease the ban, allowing women who work in the health sector to assist malnourished children and women in need of health services. Provided of course they work in line with the religious and cultural values ​​of the country.

The United Nations mission. Meanwhile, a UN mission is visiting Afghanistan for a series of talks with government officials. An international conference on women’s rights will be held in March, with the full support of the international community and the United Nations. In the meantime – it reads on Al Jazeera – the Foreign Minister of Qatar described the latest moves by the Taliban as “very disappointing”, but reiterated that Doha will continue to engage in dialogue with the Afghan government so that things change.

Short-term prospects. Negotiations are underway with the authorities to allow women to work in other sectors as well, including education, sanitation and food and water distribution. The Taliban could decide to grant authorizations for those jobs in which it is essential that there are female personnel, precisely to respect the cultural and religious values ​​of the country. The ban on women working in non-governmental organizations came last month after women were already banned from university education. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed a series of restrictions on Afghan women that effectively exclude them from public life. Women cannot go to parks, gyms, public toilets. Secondary education is already banned for girls and many women have lost their government jobs.