Taliban Blocks Media Access to Women in Earthquake Zones

The Taliban’s Department of Justice in Nangarhar has issued a strict directive to all aid organizations not to take photos or videos of women and girls during the distribution of relief. The order was issued under the pretext of “respecting Afghan and Islamic values.”

According to a statement from the provincial media office, conducting interviews with women and girls affected by the earthquake is also prohibited, and the Taliban have warned that violators will face punishment.

Local sources argue that the ban is largely aimed at silencing the voices of women and girls. By restricting media coverage and interviews, the Taliban control who is seen and which voices are heard, leaving the most vulnerable groups—women and children—voiceless.

The international organization Save the Children reported that the recent earthquake killed around 280 parents and affected over 260,000 children. More than 5,000 homes were destroyed, forcing families and children to live in tents or outdoors. Health authorities in Kunar confirmed 2,205 dead and 3,640 injured.

Earlier reports indicated that the Taliban do not allow female health workers to travel to earthquake-affected areas. The sharp decline in the number of female doctors has made aid delivery and medical care for women and children extremely difficult, further compounding their suffering.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the Taliban’s restrictions reveal a stark reality: beyond the physical devastation, women and girls face systematic suppression, and their experiences, needs, and suffering remain unseen and unheard.