Afghanistan: Humanitarians await guidelines on women’s role in aid operations – Saudi Gazette

Afghanistan: Humanitarians await guidelines on women’s role in aid operations – Saudi Gazette

NEW YORK — A UN-led group of humanitarians are hoping that the Taliban will allow Afghan women to again work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground following last month’s ban, four senior aid officials told journalists in New York on Monday.

Representing the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), they stressed that the world’s largest humanitarian operation — supporting some 28 million people in Afghanistan — simply cannot function without women staff.

The officials reported on their mission to the country last week, in the wake of the edict prohibiting Afghan women from working with local and international aid agencies, announced on Dec. 24.

Days later, the de facto Taliban authorities authorized women to continue working in healthcare.

A similar exception was made in education, though focused on the primary level as Afghan girls and women have been barred from attending high school and university.

In their meetings with the Taliban, the IASC mission expressed opposition to the ban, which they hoped would be rescinded, and advocated for exemptions in all aspects of humanitarian action.

They were told that guidelines are being developed, and were asked to be patient, said Martin Griffiths, UN relief chief and the IASC chair, speaking during a press conference at UN Headquarters.

“I’m