UNHCR closes eight assistance centers for returning Afghans

5760ance centers for returning Afghans due to restrictions imposed by the Taliban, which have prevented the agency’s female staff from working. A representative of UNHCR for Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, stated at a press conference in Geneva that this decision was made on September 9, when it became impossible to operate without female staff. He emphasized, “We all suffer from the strengthening of the ban on women’s work within the UN. Here’s a specific example from UNHCR: “We have cash assistance distribution centers in border areas and major cities. These centers are essential for distributing primary cash assistance and for biometric registration, assessments, and interviews.” Jamal states this work cannot proceed without Afghan female staff, as biometric processes are highly contact-intensive. Interviews are often confidential, and women make up 52% of the returning population. “We simply cannot operate without women.” Jamal stressed that the closure of the centers was not a light decision: “This decision was not made to harm anyone or send a political message; it simply shows that we cannot operate without female staff.” The Taliban’s decision impacts eight sub-centers nationwide, where UNHCR was registering around 7,000 people daily, nearly 80% of whom were eligible for cash assistance. “This is a significant decision and has caused great hardship for people,” he said. Jamal clarified that UNHCR has not considered separate services for men and women: “We could not and did not find it appropriate to deny women access to our services. Unfortunately, the result is that now no one is receiving services.” Jamal noted that discussions with the Taliban are ongoing and expressed hope that a solution could be found soon to resume the assistance process.