UN: 70% of women in Afghanistan face barriers to accessing humanitarian aid

A recent UN report highlights that 70% of women in Afghanistan struggle to access humanitarian aid due to various restrictions.

A recent report by the United Nations Women’s Division highlights that over 70% of women in Afghanistan face significant barriers to accessing humanitarian aid. The report points to a lack of female staff in humanitarian organizations and restrictions on women’s mobility as the primary reasons for this challenge.

The report, released on Sunday, April 27, examines the gendered impact of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. It states that the Taliban’s strict regulations on women, such as mandatory male guardianship and strict dress codes, have severely limited women’s participation in public life.

Additionally, the report emphasizes that the Taliban’s ban on women working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies has restricted women’s access to essential services such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and protection. This has undermined women’s role in shaping effective and equitable responses within the community.

One of the most concerning findings is the ongoing restriction of education for girls, with only 43% of school-aged girls receiving education and virtually no girls in the 13-17 age group attending school. This contributes to the continued cycle of poverty in the country.

The report also reveals that economic pressures, particularly on households led by women, have intensified in 2024. Some families have been forced to resort to drastic measures such as skipping meals, pulling children out of school, and early child marriages.

Furthermore, the lack of female health workers has significantly reduced women’s access to healthcare services, worsening maternal health conditions. With limited decision-making power in society, Afghanistan’s women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence and early marriage.

Despite these challenges, women-led organizations have played a vital role in advocating for women’s rights, but they have struggled due to a lack of funding. The report recommends increasing the recruitment of female staff in humanitarian organizations and providing financial support to women-led institutions to help alleviate the situation.

The report underscores the critical need for international support to ensure that Afghanistan’s women can access the resources and rights they are entitled to. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, efforts to empower women and ensure their participation in the rebuilding process are crucial for Afghanistan’s long-term stability and progress.

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