After a devastating earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Kunar province, a woman was seen walking past a damaged house carrying a child in her arms — a symbol of the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the Taliban authorities to lift restrictions on Afghan female aid workers. Dr. Mukta Sharma, WHO’s Deputy Representative in Afghanistan, told Reuters that a critical challenge in the aftermath of the earthquake is the growing shortage of female workers in the affected areas.
“This appeal has been made to support severely injured and traumatized women,” said Dr. Sharma, “so that female aid workers can travel without male guardians and reach women who are in desperate need of care.”
Currently, about 90% of health workers in the region are men, while the remaining 10% are midwives and nurses who are not trained to treat critical injuries. This gender imbalance is severely impacting healthcare access for women, many of whom are reluctant or afraid to seek treatment from male professionals and are unable to travel alone due to Taliban-imposed restrictions.
The 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on September 1 has claimed nearly 2,200 lives and left over 3,600 injured.
The tragedy comes at a time when Afghanistan was already experiencing a deep humanitarian crisis, compounded by significant reductions in international aid following the 2021 withdrawal of foreign forces and the Taliban’s return to power.
While the Taliban claims it respects women’s rights within the framework of Islamic law and has promised to ensure women receive aid, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.
In 2022, the Taliban prohibited Afghan women working for NGOs from working outside their homes. Although limited exemptions were reportedly granted for the health and education sectors, aid organizations have said these permissions were inconsistent and insufficient — especially in emergencies requiring female staff mobility.
Dr. Sharma explained that the result has been widespread uncertainty among aid groups and female workers, many of whom are unable or unwilling to take the risks necessary to deliver care.
“The restrictions are extensive,” she said. “The mahram (male guardian) requirement still exists, and no formal relaxation has been issued by the authorities.”
She added that her team held discussions with Taliban officials last week to raise the issue directly. “Now is the time when more female health workers are urgently needed,” she emphasized.
Dr. Sharma also expressed concern about long-term access to mental health services for women, particularly those dealing with trauma after losing male family members and now facing added restrictions due to the absence of a male guardian.
Pir Gul, a resident of Somai district in Kunar, shared that many women in his village are suffering from trauma and high blood pressure following the earthquake, but are struggling to get the medical attention they need.
“There’s no female doctor in the village for examinations — only one male doctor is available,” he said.
Dr. Sharma warned that the shortage of female doctors is likely to worsen as the Taliban has banned girls from attending secondary schools and universities — effectively halting the development of future female healthcare professionals.
The United Nations estimates that around 11,600 pregnant women were affected by the earthquake.
Additionally, Dr. Sharma reported that due to decreased U.S. aid this year, nearly 80 health centers across the country have already shut down, with another 16 closed as a result of earthquake-related damage.
