At least three NGOs have partially resumed their work with women staff in Afghanistan after receiving assurances from the Taliban authorities that women could continue to work in the health sector.
On December 24, the Afghan Economy Ministry announced that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were now banned from working with Afghan women because of “serious complaints” about non-compliance with the wearing of the hijab, which must fully cover the body and face.
Several NGOs, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children and Care, immediately announced they were suspending their activities in the country to protest the ban.
In recent days, however, these NGOs have returned to some provinces with the support of their health and nutrition workers.
“We have resumed health sector activities with female staff in four provinces,” IRC official Samira Sayed-Rahman told AFP.
“We continue discussions with provincial authorities to open health and nutrition activities in other provinces,” the NGO said in a statement.
According to the Economy Ministry, around 1,260 NGOs operate in the country and employ several thousand women in key positions, be it in food aid programs, health care or even education.
Save the Children has also confirmed the resumption of its activities in the health sector.
“We have received clear and reliable assurances from the relevant authorities that our female employees are safe and free to work,” Save the Children said in a statement.
“However, since the general ban still applies, our other activities, for which we have no reliable assurances that our colleagues can work, remain in limbo,” adds the association.
In a press release, Care also announced that it was “resuming its health and nutrition activities in Afghanistan with male and female staff.”
“NGOs working in the health sector work with their female staff (…). We need them to support malnourished children and other women who need health services,” Economy Ministry spokesman Abdul Rahman Habib told AFP on Tuesday.
“They all work according to our religious and cultural values,” he added.
NGOs are providing vital assistance to this country where acute food insecurity affects more than half of the 38 million people.