The United Nations has recently emphasized the vital role of women in delivering humanitarian aid to women and girls in Afghanistan, stating that their presence is essential for providing services safely, appropriately, and with dignity.
OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has noted that women continue to work to deliver services to communities in need despite security difficulties, access restrictions, and operational challenges.
Bruno Lemarquis, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, expressed appreciation for humanitarian workers, especially Afghan women.
He stressed that the activities of women and girls in the humanitarian sector still face very serious obstacles.
He highlighted the expertise, resilience, and commitment of Afghan women as crucial to ensuring access for women and girls to humanitarian assistance, stating: “Humanitarian aid cannot effectively reach women and girls without the presence of female humanitarian workers in Afghanistan.”
He emphasized that women working in the humanitarian sector in Afghanistan operate under conditions where access to many areas is difficult, and resource limitations and operational challenges have complicated the aid delivery process.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that they work in areas including health services, psychosocial support, protection, education, and other humanitarian activities with communities in need.
This comes at a time when millions of people in Afghanistan are facing poverty, food insecurity, displacement, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change.
