Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Taliban Restrictions on Women’s Rights, Ban on Education
At a recent UN Security Council meeting, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women, Amu TV reported yesterday.
She highlighted that the new “Vice and Virtue” law further isolates the country and hinders its recovery from decades of conflict.
She noted that the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 30% funded, receiving around $900 million of the required $3 billion, leading to the closure of 260 healthcare facilities affecting nearly 3 million people. Additionally, food rations have been cut by up to 50%, disproportionately impacting women and children, who make up 80% of food assistance beneficiaries, Otunbayeva warned.
With winter approaching and the potential return of refugees, the UN officer stressed that basic human needs remain unmet, especially for the 5 million women and children facing drought. The Taliban’s international isolation, due to sanctions and frozen assets, limits economic development and access to vital resources.
Otunbayeva called for increased international support, emphasizing that excluding half the population hinders Afghanistan’s progress. “A country cannot thrive when half its population is excluded,” she stated, urging the Taliban to reverse these restrictive policies.
UNICEF has also expressed serious concern over the ongoing ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan, a restriction that has persisted for three years as of September 18. This year alone, 38,000 girls have been denied the opportunity to continue their education.
