Al Jazeera has recently reported that following the deadly earthquake in Kunar province, the restrictions imposed by the interim government on the work of women and girls have hindered access to aid for victims, especially women and girls. According to the report, the shortage of female staff in the affected areas has made it difficult to provide assistance to women and girls. The report states that 90 percent of health workers in these areas are men, while only a small number of women (midwives and nurses) are present to treat severely injured patients, and they lack sufficient training. It further adds that the absence of female doctors has worsened the situation for pregnant women and injured female victims. Al Jazeera emphasized that the lack of separate toilets and unsanitary conditions in displacement camps have created new challenges for women and girls affected by the earthquake. International organizations have called for lifting restrictions on women’s work, warning that without the active participation of female aid workers, many affected women and girls will be deprived of life-saving assistance. It is reported that the earthquake on August 31 in eastern Afghanistan left more than 2,200 people dead and 3,600 injured. However, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 1,992 people lost their lives and more than 3,600 were injured in the earthquake. OCHA has also announced that the aid received so far amounts to only 23.7 million dollars, which is about 115 million dollars less than the actual needs.

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has recently stated that depriving women and girls of education is an act of extremism, and with a focus only on religious/jihadi education, the future of Afghanistan’s young generation will be destroyed. Mr. Bennett made these remarks on Friday (September 25) on the sidelines of a UN meeting, saying that documented reports from Afghanistan are vital for directing global discussions toward effective international action. He further emphasized that creating more platforms for hearing the views of Afghan citizens, especially Islamic scholars and experts, is important and must be taken seriously. The UN Special Rapporteur also pointed out the suppression of civil society and silencing of dissenting voices, adding that despite threats, intimidation, and acts of retaliation, the actions of this group have not gone unnoticed by the international community and remain under scrutiny. Bennett’s criticism of the situation of women and girls comes as the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived them of education. In its latest restriction, the government closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite the fact that Afghanistan’s health sector is facing a shortage of personnel. This move has left millions of school-aged girls deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has recently announced that the Afghanistan women’s refugee football team will take the field for the first time in an international tournament in the United Arab Emirates. According to FIFA’s statement, the team will participate in a four-team friendly competition in Dubai, held under the title “FIFA Unites: Women’s Series” from October 23 to 29. The announcement stated that the Afghan women’s refugee team is scheduled to play against the national women’s teams of the UAE, Chad, and Libya. It should be noted that after 2021, when the caretaker government banned women’s sports, many female players were forced to flee the country to save their lives. Most members of Afghanistan’s national women’s team now live in Australia and other countries. In recent years, FIFA has organized several talent-scouting camps in different countries, which led to the formation of a 23-player squad for the Afghan women’s refugee team. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized: “Ensuring access to football for all women is one of FIFA’s priorities and an essential part of the future of this sport. These games are not just competitions; they represent symbols of hope and progress for women around the world.” FIFA further added that all matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on the organization’s online platform. It is worth mentioning that while men’s football in Afghanistan continues as usual, this tournament marks the first official return of Afghan women to the football field.

Save the Children has reported that, following the deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan and the blockage of routes to hospitals, babies are being delivered in tents. In a newly released report, the organization stated that around 11,000 women in the earthquake-affected areas are currently pregnant and, in the coming months amid the harsh winter, will be forced to give birth in tents. The lack of proper shelter at the onset of winter puts the health of both mothers and newborns at serious risk. The report adds that in the districts worst affected by the deadly quakes in eastern Afghanistan, 9 out of 10 families have relocated to tents, while around 40,000 children are living in the open air. It further noted that the risk of large rockfalls after the earthquake, coupled with snowfall during the winter, has raised villagers’ concerns about mobility and safety. Save the Children stressed that in the winter season, access routes to some of the affected areas may remain blocked for weeks. The organization also warned that, in addition to these challenges, the constant threat of rockslides persists, and some villages are still only accessible on foot. The report estimates that around half a million people affected by the earthquakes in eastern Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian assistance, while more than 8,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged. Quoting Samira Syed Rahman, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Save the Children in Afghanistan, the report stated: “No newborn should take their first breath in a tent. No child should be without shoes, warm clothing, or heating as winter approaches.” She warned that cold weather threatens the health of newborns and children, weakens their immune systems, and increases their vulnerability to acute respiratory infections. The Save the Children official called for urgent funding to support children and pregnant women. Following the deadly earthquake earlier this month in eastern Afghanistan, more than 2,000 people — most of them women and children — were killed, and around 2,000 others injured. However, according to the latest figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 1,992 people lost their lives and 3,631 others were injured.

Sima Bahous, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Women’s Affairs, says that in large-scale humanitarian crises, women and girls are the first and heaviest victims. From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Sudan to Gaza, it is women who bear the steep cost of instability, violence, and hunger. Ms. Bahous made these remarks at the UN General Assembly session marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. At this session, the alarming situation of women and girls in war-torn countries—especially Afghanistan—was a central focus for senior international officials. They stressed: “We owe it to women and girls in every country to spare no effort in the pursuit of peace and justice.” Also at the session, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the global rise in misogyny, saying that decades of hard-won progress in women’s rights are now under renewed pressure. He further emphasized: “Widespread conflicts and climate crises have severely restricted the rights and freedoms of women and girls. Structural and technological hate is expanding, and we must resist it.” Meanwhile, Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, referring to the painful situation of women in Afghanistan and Palestine, described these countries as examples of the “systematic destruction of women.” Reem Alsalem added: “While the world sits in silence, women and girls are being deliberately targeted and marginalized. This inaction exposes the true face of governments that claim to support women’s rights.” It is worth noting that Afghanistan was one of the main focuses of this session. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, maternal mortality rates in Afghanistan are among the highest in the world. Since taking power, the current authorities have deprived women and girls of education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though Afghanistan’s health sector faces a severe shortage of personnel. This move has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, receiving medical treatment from male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs—even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

The UN Women section has recently stated that despite the restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities, Afghan women and girl entrepreneurs are expanding their businesses. In a report released today (Tuesday, September 22), the organization said that women and girl entrepreneurs in Afghanistan are growing their activities in export markets in South Asia and the Gulf region. UN Women further emphasized: “Despite increasing restrictions and economic instability, Afghan women and girl entrepreneurs, through resilience, vision, and determination, are seizing regional trade opportunities and continuing to grow their businesses.” A 32-year-old entrepreneur from Herat told UN Women: “I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to represent my business in another country. It wasn’t just about selling products; it was proof that Afghan women can thrive anywhere.” According to the report, this woman manages the Afghan food industry company “Chashni,” which was established after the return of the de facto authorities to power and is engaged in the production of saffron and food spices. She further added: “We purchase one kilogram of high-quality saffron from Herat farmers for up to 97,000 Afghanis and sell it for around 120,000 Afghanis.” The UN Women report also noted that due to shrinking employment opportunities, many women and girls are seeking alternative ways to sustain their livelihoods. Meanwhile, since their return to power, the de facto authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s work and activities outside the home, virtually depriving them of social life. They have also banned women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to female students, even as Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. This move has left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education. In addition, women have been barred from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs as well as UN offices in Afghanistan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently warned that the increase in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory problems among Afghan women is alarming. In a report published on Monday (September 22), the organization stated that breast cancer and cervical cancer are among the most common cancers among Afghan women, and that cardiovascular diseases alone claim the lives of more than 40,000 people in Afghanistan each year. WHO expressed concern, emphasizing that most patients only seek treatment at advanced stages, when the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced. The organization also noted that more than half of the families returning from Iran and Pakistan are facing psychological disorders. It added that mental illness is a “silent killer” among Afghan citizens. According to the report, one in five Afghans suffers from a mental health problem, and in the past year, more than half of the returning families struggled with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nevertheless, provincial hospitals and primary care services still lack mental health support, leaving many of the country’s vulnerable populations without care. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO Representative in Afghanistan, said: “Across Afghanistan, millions live with the daily burden of chronic diseases and mental health challenges—an issue that places enormous pressure on a fragile health system.” The organization had previously warned about the rise of malaria in the country as well.

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has recently announced that 92% of female journalists in the country have been forced to alter or censor their reports. In a report published on Monday, September 22, AMSO stated that 80% of journalists received no support over the past year. The organization further emphasized that half of the journalists in the country have lost hope of continuing their work in the coming year. According to the report, only 6.9% of female journalists are currently allowed to work in Afghanistan. AMSO also noted that 55% of journalists have been threatened, while another 15% have received threats through their media outlets. The report added that 55.4% of journalists have lost their jobs, 50.5% have been forced to censor their reports, 46% of female journalists were not allowed to interview men, and 23% said they were compelled to have a male guardian present while working. AMSO said that these statistics were gathered through a survey conducted among female journalists during July and August. It should be noted that since the takeover of Afghanistan by the interim government, a large number of media outlets have shut down, and thousands of journalists—especially women—have lost their jobs or been forced to leave the country due to security concerns. The interim government has gradually increased restrictions on the media and journalists, particularly female journalists. In some provinces, live broadcasting has been banned, leading to the closure of several local television stations.

Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, calling the situation “cruel, harmful, and unlawful.” The organization stated that by closing the doors of schools to girls from the age of 12, the de facto authorities have effectively destroyed the dreams and opportunities of millions of children and pushed the country into a deeper cycle of poverty and inequality. Sahar Fetrat, a women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, stressed that this ban has not only trapped girls but has also plunged Afghan society as a whole into crisis, eliminating the possibility of building a healthier and more just community. The article states: “Without education, girls are pushed into early marriage, deprived of job opportunities, and unable to shape their own futures. This ban silences the voices of Afghan girls, steals their hopes, and crushes their imagination and potential.” It further notes that this action has not only destroyed the dreams of millions of girls but has also entrenched Afghan society in a deeper cycle of inequality, poverty, and entrenched oppression. Sahar Fetrat also criticized the global community’s response, saying that the world has not done enough to protect Afghan girls’ education. The inability or unwillingness of governments to act sends the message that Afghan children do not matter or are somehow second-class. Human Rights Watch, referring to the global stance on the situation of Afghan women and girls—particularly in education—emphasized: “This silence in the face of such injustice only empowers oppressors and normalizes inequality.” In part of the article, Sahar Fetrat wrote that education is not a privilege but a right for everyone, including Afghan girls. These reactions come as Afghanistan marks the fourth year since the closure of girls’ schools. In August 2021, when the de facto authorities took power, they issued a decree banning education for girls beyond grade six.

The Ministry of Education of the caretaker government has recently announced that 51 lesson titles from several school subjects, ranging from grade one to grade twelve, have been removed. According to the ministry, these titles have been eliminated from Dari, Pashto, Social Studies, and English subjects, and their teaching in schools is now prohibited. In a letter obtained by the media, it is emphasized that these lessons were deemed contrary to “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards.” The letter states that lessons on the national flag, Teacher’s Day, mother, women’s rights in society, human rights, humanitarianism, Red Flower Festival, the Bamiyan Buddhas, folk customs and songs, the caliphate of Imam Ali, and several other topics have been removed from textbooks. The ministry also added in the letter that it is reviewing scientific subjects in schools as well, and if any material is found to be against “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards,” they will also be removed. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education of the caretaker government had previously announced several times that it would bring changes, remove, and replace certain lesson titles in primary school subjects. These 51 lesson titles are being removed at a time when the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. In its latest restriction, the government closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have also been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.