Urgent Plea: WHO Calls on Taliban to Protect Women Workers in Quake-Hit Afghanistan Amid ‘No Skin Contact’ Rule

The World Health Organization (WHO) is pressing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to lift restrictions on female aid workers, following reports that male rescuers are prohibited from touching women in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. This disaster, which struck on September 1 with a magnitude of 6, has resulted in over 2,200 deaths and more than 3,600 injuries, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in a country struggling with severe aid cuts since the Taliban took power in 2021.

Dr. Mukta Sharma, WHO’s deputy representative in Afghanistan, emphasized that female aid workers should be allowed to travel without male guardians to provide much-needed care to women who are hesitant to seek medical help from male staff. “A very big issue now is the increasing paucity of female staff in these places,” Dr. Sharma told Reuters. She noted that approximately 90% of medical personnel in the earthquake-affected areas are male, while the remaining 10% primarily consists of midwives and nurses, limiting the ability to treat severe injuries effectively.

Women face additional barriers due to the Taliban-imposed “no skin contact” rule, making it even more difficult for them to access necessary care. “The restrictions are huge, the mahram (male guardian requirements) issue continues, and no formal exemption has been provided by the de facto authorities,” Dr. Sharma explained, adding that her team has vocally addressed these concerns with local authorities in recent discussions. She stressed the urgent need for more female health workers during this humanitarian crisis, urging the authorities to facilitate their deployment.

Survivors’ stories paint a grim picture of the reality faced by women amid these restrictive measures. Aysha, a 19-year-old from Kunar Province, shared her experience, stating, “No one offered the women help, asked what they needed or even approached them.” Testimonies like hers illustrate how the Taliban’s prohibitions on interactions between men and unrelated women are worsening the impact of the earthquake, turning a natural disaster into a more profound tragedy for women in the region.

Despite the Taliban’s claims that they respect women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law, the ongoing restrictions reveal a stark contradiction. While leaders assert their commitment to allow women access to aid, the absence of female personnel in relief operations leaves many vulnerable women without essential support.

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, the situation calls for immediate action from Afghanistan’s health ministry, which has yet to respond to these pressing concerns. The WHO’s appeal for a change in policy highlights the critical need for inclusive, gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance to ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, can receive the care they deserve.

The gravity of this issue cannot be overstated, as natural disasters affect everyone, but in Afghanistan, women often find themselves at the bottom of the priority list in relief efforts.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Original Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/amid-no-skin-contact-rule-who-asks-taliban-to-allow-female-workers-in-quake-hit-afghanistan-101757313252411.html
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Publish Date: 2025-09-08 12:29:00