4 NGOs suspend operations in Afghanistan over ban on women workforce

New Delhi: Four international aid agencies, including Refugee Council, CARE, and Save the Children, suspended their humanitarian programmes in Afghanistan in response to the Taliban-run administration's order to stop female employees from working.

Three NGOs - Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE International - said in a joint statement that they were suspending their programmes as they awaited clarity on the administration's order, the Reuters news agency reported.

Last weekend, the Ministry of Economy officials ordered all local and foreign non-governmental organizations not to let female staff work until further notice as some women had not adhered to the Taliban's interpretation of the Islamic dress code.

The humanitarian aid agencies said, "We cannot effectively reach children, women and men in desperate need in Afghanistan without our female staff." 

"Without women driving the effort, they would not have reached millions of Afghans in need since August last year," they added.

Separately, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said it was suspending its services in the country, citing similar reasons. IRC employs more than 8,000 people in Afghanistan, including over 3,000 women.

Afghanistan presently needs massive humanitarian support as more than half of its population is undernourished and without jobs. The country's economy is substantially lousy, and winters bring more misery to the people.

Earlier, international aid agency AfghanAid said it was immediately suspending operations while it consulted with other organizations and that other NGOs were taking similar actions.

The International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan also expressed concern at the move and ban of education for women warning of "catastrophic humanitarian consequences in short to long term".

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Taliban administration, Zabihullah Mujahid, hit back at the criticism, saying all institutions wanting to operate in Afghanistan are obliged to comply with the country's rules.

"We do not allow anyone to talk rubbish or make threats regarding the decisions of our leaders under the title of humanitarian aid," Mujahid said in a post on Twitter, referring to a statement by the head of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan.

International condemnations

Afghan local media has been reporting on the continuous condemnation from national and international leaders and society after the Taliban banned females from working for NGOs and senior classes education.

Arindam Bagchi, the Indian Official Spokesperson last week on female education in Afghanistan said, “we have seen reports and have noted them with concern in this regard. India has consistently supported the cause of female education in Afghanistan. We have emphasized the importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society, including access to higher education.”

Bagchi also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2593, which reaffirms the importance of upholding women’s rights and also calls for full, equal and meaningful participation of women.

In a tweet, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concerns about the Islamic Emirate decision's ban on women's jobs and said, "this decision could be devastating for the Afghan people; women are central to humanitarian operations around the world."

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West said the Islamic Emirate had forgotten its real responsibilities to its people.

"The Taliban's decree barring women from working to deliver humanitarian aid is profoundly irresponsible. It poses mortal risks to millions who depend on life-saving assistance," West said.

"The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the reported order of the de facto Taliban authorities banning women from working for national and international non-governmental organizations," United Nations said in a statement.

The ban on women working for the NG0 sector comes immediately after the suspension of higher education for female students last week. It was announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, which also sparked widespread national and international condemnations.

Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeld "strongly condemned" the decision and called for its immediate reversal.

"I strongly condemn the ban on female employees of NGOs in Afghanistan. This decision must be reversed immediately. Norway will review the situation with its partners and issue an appropriate response," she said.

"We condemn the Taliban's decision to ban women from working for NGOs and international organizations. It goes against humanitarian principles, marginalizes women and girls, and impacts the poorest Afghans. We call on the Taliban to reverse this decision," Australia's embassy for Afghanistan.