• WHO requests Taliban to lift travel restrictions on female aid workers.
• The September earthquake left over 2200 dead and thousands homeless.
• Women lack access to medical care due to the shortage of female staff.
• Reports highlight the detrimental impact of these restrictions on women's health.
• Funding cuts have already jeopardized health facilities in affected areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially requested the Taliban to lift restrictions on Afghan female aid workers, enabling them to travel without male guardians and assist women in accessing essential medical care after a devastating earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing over 2,200 individuals. Dr. Mukta Sharma, WHO's deputy representative in Afghanistan, highlighted the dire need for female medical staff amid immense humanitarian crises exacerbated by the disaster, stating, “A very big issue now is the increasing paucity of female staff in these places,” with the estimated composition of medical staff being around 90% male, which severely limits women's access to care due to cultural barriers, as many women are uncomfortable interacting with male healthcare providers.

The September 1 earthquake, with a magnitude of 6, resulted in significant casualties, injuring over 3,600 people and displacing thousands. Many women are now struggling to receive care due to the severe limitations placed on female healthcare workers, as the Taliban mandates stringent restrictions that undermine efforts to deploy adequate medical assistance in the aftermath of this natural disaster. Despite claims from the Taliban that they respect women's rights in alignment with their interpretation of Islamic law, many humanitarian officials have criticized the inconsistency and insufficiency of exemptions, particularly in urgent circumstances that necessitate the presence of female aid staff, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Dawn.

Such restrictions are further compounded by the Taliban's prior decree in 2022 that forced female NGO staff to halt work outside their homes, adding to the existing barriers in fulfilling critical health services. Dr. Sharma has advocated for the inclusion of more female health workers, emphasizing the complex realities women face post-earthquake, including the difficulty in obtaining mental health care. Many women, especially those who lost male family members, face heightened trauma and stress but are unable to navigate the current restrictions on women's movement effectively, further escalating their vulnerability and need for adequate healthcare.

Peer Gul, a local from the severely afflicted Somai district in Kunar province, reported the urgent struggles of women in his village, many suffering from psychological stress and high blood pressure post-quake with limited access to necessary medical care, stating, “There is no female doctor for examinations; only one male doctor is available.” This situation is exacerbated by a diminishing pool of female doctors due to the Taliban's ban on female education at high school and college levels, which has stalled the training of new female medical professionals. Current estimations indicate that nearly 11,600 pregnant women in affected regions face heightened risks, amid some of the highest maternal mortality rates in Asia, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Dawn.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis has been further aggravated by funding cuts from international organizations, including the U.S. administration, leading to the closure of around 80 health facilities this year alone and damages from the earthquake forcing an additional 16 health posts to shut down. These developments have critically undermined the healthcare infrastructure in Afghanistan, intensifying the challenges faced by the affected populations, particularly women who are in immediate need of medical assistance.