Posted on 09 July 2024
At the UN summit in Doha, the Taliban’s recent actions have raised serious concerns about the future of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. The United Nations has warned that the Taliban’s ban on women working could jeopardise the billions in aid crucial for the country’s survival. The standoff between the UN and the Taliban centres around the latter’s restrictions, which have already led to the suspension of UN flights carrying cash for humanitarian aid. Martin Griffiths, the UN’s lead humanitarian coordinator, has emphasised the practical necessity of women’s involvement in aid delivery, stating that without their participation, the aid distribution to women and girls, who are the primary beneficiaries, cannot continue.
The situation is further complicated by the inconsistent enforcement of the ban across different regions of Afghanistan, with some areas still allowing women to work. Despite this, the ban has resulted in the suspension of activities by numerous NGOs and aid agencies, affecting the delivery of services during a particularly harsh winter. With reports of children arriving at hospitals with pneumonia, the implications of the ban are dire. The UN’s largest humanitarian aid programme is at risk, and the potential loss of aid represents a significant setback for the 28 million people in Afghanistan who depend on it. The ban, initially imposed after claims of inadequate enforcement of the hijab, has highlighted the influence of hardline Pashtuns based in Kandahar, whose decisions are shaping the country’s policies and affecting the lives of countless Afghan women.
Source: The Guardian
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