UN Women: Increasing Female Staff In Afghanistan Is Vital to Combating Poverty

Following the suspension of U.S. humanitarian aid, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has intensified, leaving millions—especially women and children—without adequate access to humanitarian services.

UN Women on Sunday, April 27, issued a report warning that 70% of Afghan women are facing difficulties accessing humanitarian aid.

According to the report, restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women—such as the ban on women working in aid organizations and the requirement for a male guardian to accompany them outside—have directly hindered access to health services, education, humanitarian aid, and public participation. These restrictions have led to the suspension or limitation of 90% of programs aimed at supporting women and children.

The report notes that in 2024, economic pressures on families—especially those headed by women—have intensified. As a result, some families are resorting to difficult measures such as forgoing meals, withdrawing children from school, and arranging early marriages for girls.

One of the consequences of this crisis is a rise in early marriages as a coping mechanism for poverty. The report adds that many families, unable to meet basic needs, are resorting to early marriage for their daughters.

The UN Women report also emphasizes that the ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade perpetuates the cycle of poverty in Afghanistan. It states that only 43% of school-age girls have access to education, and almost no girls between the ages of 13 and 17 attend school.

The report also highlights Taliban-imposed restrictions in healthcare and the reduced access of women to medical services. The lack of female staff in healthcare sectors has significantly worsened the health of pregnant women and children, with preventable deaths on the rise.

UN Women has emphasized that millions of people in Afghanistan are at risk of hunger and displacement. With these ongoing restrictions, Afghanistan is at risk of a widespread humanitarian collapse.

The report recommends that to overcome this situation, the number of female staff in humanitarian organizations should be increased, and organizations led by women should receive more financial support.