Over 13 million children in Afghanistan need urgent help to survive. The country is facing the world’s worst economic crisis, and poverty and hunger are widespread among the 40 million inhabitants. Yet the country’s Taliban government has decided to ban women from working in the country’s aid organizations, thereby limiting both their ability to earn a living and help others in need.
The result? Several aid organizations have had to pause their activities.
– We simply cannot reach the most vulnerable women and children without our female colleagues, says Rädda Barnes operational manager, David Wright.
He also emphasizes that Save the Children, and other aid organizations that have had to pause their activities, have not done so to put pressure on the Taliban. The decision is only made based on their ability to deliver aid.
– We work with women and children in often very conservative areas. Then it is not acceptable for an all-male team to enter the village, says Wright.
Thousands of children at risk of dying of hunger
Save the children’s activities reach over 30,000 children daily. We don’t want to stop helping these children, says Wright, but if the Taliban do not reverse their decision, there could be devastating consequences.
– We have about a week before children will start dying as a result of this decision, he warns.
In total, approximately 20 million residents receive assistance from various aid organizations to survive, according to Reuters.
“Taliban and we have the same goal”
Aid organizations are always dependent on government approval to operate in a country, says Wright. That’s why we’ve teamed up with other aid organizations, including the United Nations, to make it clear to the Taliban that we have the same goal and that the decision must be reversed to give the Afghan people a chance, Wright said.
It is not only about the country’s women, who are particularly vulnerable, but also about the millions of children who suffer from hunger and need medical assistance.
– We are all working towards the same goal, namely to improve and help Afghan children achieve their full potential. The best way forward is for the Taliban to reverse that decision, says David Wright.