Like you, we care deeply about the needs and rights of Afghan children. We’re extremely concerned about their situation. The stories we’re hearing from our local staff are heart-breaking.
The decision to ban women from working for NGOs is just the latest in a rollback of women’s rights. On March 23, 2022, Afghanistan’s de facto authorities banned girls from attending school beyond Grade 6. That means girls can no longer get a high-school education. On December 20, 2022, female students were banned from attending universities in Afghanistan.
But it’s not just women and girls who are suffering. Right now, more than half the population – including 14 million children – need urgent humanitarian aid and protection. It’s estimated 97% of Afghans face living in poverty this year. More than 1.1 million children under age 5 are acutely malnourished and at risk of starvation.
We’ve restarted the food assistance, health, and nutrition programmes that you make possible to help children in need. It’s because we’ve received assurances from authorities that the ban does not apply to women working in these areas.
We are hopeful that the de facto authorities will fully lift the ban, which will allow us to restart the rest of our vital, life-saving work in the country.