Earthquake-affected women in Eastern Afghanistan: Deprived of vital assistance

KABUL: Days after the 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, which resulted in over 2,200 deaths, women and girls have been deprived of urgent aid due to the absence of female aid workers. According to the New York Times, in some areas, women who were injured were left untreated due to Taliban restrictions, and male responders avoided contact with them. A 19-year-old girl named Bibi Aisha stated, “We were gathered in a corner and forgotten. No one came close or asked what we needed.” Witnesses have confirmed that many injured women died under the rubble due to the prohibition of contact. A New York Times reporter noted that there were no female staff members in the rescue teams or hospitals in the Kunar region. Local volunteer Tahzeebullah Mahzab described women as “invisible,” stating they were only pulled from under the rubble when no male relatives were present to assist. Various organizations have confirmed the lack of female health workers in the earthquake-affected areas. Aid organizations view this situation as a form of dual discrimination against women, who are victims not only of the natural disaster but also of social restrictions. Afghanistan is facing a severe shortage of female healthcare workers, exacerbated by the Taliban’s ban on women’s enrollment in medical training last year. Currently, girls are prohibited from attending school after the sixth grade, and women have been barred from many professions. With the continued ban on girls’ education and work restrictions for women, Afghanistan’s future without an educated female population poses a significant crisis for women. While women are in dire need of practical support, some countries are engaging with the Taliban instead of applying pressure and providing substantial support to the Afghan people, particularly women.