Non-governmental organizations resume their work with the participation of female employees

Three NGOs partially resumed their work with female staff in Afghanistan after the Taliban authorities assured them that women could continue to work in the health sector. And the Afghan Ministry of Economy announced on December 24 that Afghan women were banned from working in non-governmental organizations because of “serious complaints” about disrespect for wearing a veil, which should cover the body and face. Several non-governmental organizations at once, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children and CARE, announced the termination of their activities in the country in protest against this decision, but these organizations resumed their activities. providing assistance in the areas of health and food, with the participation of female employees in several regions. “We have resumed our health care activities with female staff” in four regions, Samira Syed Rahman, spokesperson for the International Rescue Committee, told AFP. “We are continuing discussions with regional authorities to resume health and food activities in other regions,” the organization said in a statement. According to the Ministry of Economy, there are about 1,260 non-governmental organizations in the country, in which thousands of women participate. in key positions, whether in food aid programs or in health and education. For its part, Save the Children confirmed the resumption of its health care activities and said in a statement: “We have received clear and strong assurances from the relevant authorities that our female employees will be safe and able to work without interference.” added: “However, given that the general ban is still in place, our other activities for which we have not received strong guarantees that our female colleagues can work remain suspended.” CARE also confirmed in a statement, that it is “resuming its activities in the field of health and nutrition in Afghanistan with the participation of men and women.” In turn, the representative of the Ministry of Economy, Abd al-Rahman Habib, told Agence France-Presse: “NGOs working in the field of health work with their female employees … other women who need medical services.” He added: “They all work. twii with our religious and cultural values.” Non-governmental organizations are providing much-needed assistance to a country where more than half of its 38 million people suffer from severe food insecurity.