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WHO urges IEA to lift female aid worker restrictions after deadly quake
The 6.0-magnitude quake on September 1 killed more than 2,200 people, injured over 3,600, and left thousands homeless in eastern Afghanistan.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate authorities to ease restrictions on female aid workers, saying their presence is vital in delivering medical assistance to women affected by last week’s powerful earthquake.
The 6.0-magnitude quake on September 1 killed more than 2,200 people, injured over 3,600, and left thousands homeless in eastern Afghanistan.
With most medical staff in the area being men, WHO officials warn that Afghan women are struggling to access care due to cultural barriers and rules requiring a male guardian for travel.
“A very big issue now is the increasing paucity of female staff in these places,” Dr. Mukta Sharma, deputy representative of WHO in Afghanistan, told Reuters. She said roughly 90% of available health workers in the area were men, while the remaining 10% were mostly midwives and nurses rather than doctors equipped to treat serious injuries.
Restrictions on women’s work have compounded the problem. In 2022, the Islamic Emirate barred Afghan women from working for NGOs, though limited exemptions were granted in health and education. Humanitarian groups say those exemptions are inconsistent, leaving aid agencies uncertain and often unable to deploy female staff when emergencies strike.
“The restrictions are huge, the mahram (male guardian) issue continues and no formal exemption has been provided by the de facto authorities,” Sharma said. “This is the time you really need to have more female health workers present, let us bring them in.”
Community members say the absence of female doctors has already worsened the crisis. “There is no female doctor for examinations; only one male doctor is available,” said Peer Gul, a resident of Kunar’s Somai district, one of the hardest-hit areas.
WHO also warned that the situation threatens women’s long-term access to mental health care, particularly for those who lost male relatives in the quake and now face restrictions without a guardian. The shortage of female doctors is expected to deepen, with women currently barred from secondary school and university education.
The United Nations estimates that around 11,600 pregnant women were impacted by the quake. Afghanistan already suffers one of Asia’s highest maternal mortality rates, while recent cuts in foreign aid have forced the closure of dozens of health facilities in quake-affected provinces.
The Afghan health ministry and IEA spokespersons have not yet commented. The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said it respects women’s rights under its interpretation of Islamic law and has pledged that women will continue to receive aid.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said on Monday that Pakistani military regime carried out fresh attacks targeting civilian areas in Dangam district of Kunar Province.
According to Fitrat, the strikes hit residential homes as well as public facilities, including schools, health centers, and mosques.
He reported that at least three civilians were killed, while 14 others—most of them women and children—were wounded.
Fitrat added that the attacks caused damage to civilian infrastructure, destroying two schools (one for girls and one for boys), a health center, and two mosques. He also said that approximately 80 livestock were killed.
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Ambassador Ugolini reaffirms Italy’s humanitarian commitment to Afghanistan
Speaking at the meeting, Ugolini confirmed Italy’s continued role as a donor country, with a focus on addressing basic needs and supporting livelihoods across Afghanistan.
Italy has reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian support in Afghanistan during a high-level coordination meeting in Istanbul.
Ambassador Sabrina Ugolini represented Italy at the Afghanistan Coordination Group meeting, co-organised by the European Union, the United Nations, and the World Bank.
Speaking at the meeting, Ugolini confirmed Italy’s continued role as a donor country, with a focus on addressing basic needs and supporting livelihoods across Afghanistan.
She highlighted the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s renewed priorities, including the empowerment of women, education, refugee support, healthcare, and demining efforts.
Together with Francesco Zatta, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) office in Islamabad, the ambassador also underscored the importance of preserving Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. They noted that safeguarding heritage sites can contribute to job creation and economic growth, forming part of Italy’s broader principles-based approach to development assistance.
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Leadership reshuffle announced across Afghanistan’s admin and security sectors
Officials say the reshuffle is part of ongoing efforts to streamline governance, improve coordination between institutions, and strengthen security management across the country.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has announced a wide-ranging set of leadership appointments following a decree from the IEA’s senior leadership.
Under the changes, Abdul Ahad Fazli, former governor of Faryab, has been appointed Minister of Communications and Information Technology. Mohammad Hanif Hamza will take over as governor of Faryab, while Abdulrahman Haqqani has been named governor of Khost and Abdullah Mukhtar as governor of Baghlan.
Further appointments include Mohammad Wali Jan as governor of Badghis and Makhdum Abdul Salam Saadat as Deputy Minister for Coordination of Islamic Affairs at the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs.
In the security sector, Abdul Qayum Hilal has been appointed police chief of Baghlan, Abdul Haq as police chief of Maidan Wardak, Mohammad Omar Mukhlis as police chief of Nimroz, and Faridullah Qiyam as police chief of Logar.
At the provincial deputy level, Enamullah Salahuddin (Logar), Mohammad Anwar (Paktia), Abdul Zahir Mudassir (Maidan Wardak), Mohammad Nabi Hamas (Baghlan), Rahimullah Mahmood (Helmand), and Mohammad Gul Khaybar (Farah) have been appointed. Qazi Noorullah has been named deputy governor of Paktika.
In additional postings, Mohammad Humayun Jahadyar has been assigned as commander of the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 203rd Mansouri Corps, while Agha Wali Hanafi will oversee detention facilities within the General Directorate of Prisons.
Officials say the reshuffle is part of ongoing efforts to streamline governance, improve coordination between institutions, and strengthen security management across the country.
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