44 Percent Of Afghan Men Enforce Taliban’s Morality Law At Home, Says UN

In a statement issued Saturday, the office urged aid groups to fully respect “Afghan and Islamic values” during relief work. “It is strongly advised that during aid distribution to earthquake victims, taking photos of women should be strictly avoided,” the statement said.

The office did not define “sensitivities,” but restrictions enforced by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have made it nearly impossible for male aid workers to assist women. Under Taliban rules, men cannot provide help to women who are not relatives or even speak to them.

Because of the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s employment, few female aid workers have been able to reach Kunar and Nangarhar to provide assistance.

Local sources in Kunar told Afghanistan International that at least six pregnant women have died in hospitals since the earthquake because of a lack of female medical staff and inadequate facilities.

Despite broad pledges of support, basic aid particularly medical assistance has yet to reach many affected areas, leaving residents struggling, the sources said.

Residents said Taliban restrictions have led to men being prioritised in rescue and treatment efforts, while women often had less opportunity to seek care.

“There are very few female medical teams, and many women died because unrelated men were not allowed to pull them from under the rubble,” a health official in Kunar said. “By the third day, some families were forced to send women with midwifery training into quake-hit areas.”

A representative of the UN Development Programme in Afghanistan warned that Taliban restrictions on women’s work have slowed recovery efforts after the earthquake.

In a statement, the ministry described Yaqoob’s recent comments as a repetition of taunts and jibes and said: “Whatever the statement issued from the other side, it cannot mask the seriousness of this issue,” It added that the Taliban cannot deny the presence of anti-Pakistan militants on Afghan soil.

The ministry reiterated that sanctuaries for militant groups, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), remain a “serious concern” and said the matter has been raised “with utmost seriousness” in high-level discussions between Taliban and Pakistani officials.

It said the continued presence of militants in Afghanistan is a major issue disrupting bilateral relations and a “main obstacle” to greater engagement. Pakistan urged the Taliban to address what it called a “very serious issue.”

Yaqoob said in a recent television interview that Pakistan blames Afghanistan for attacks on its soil to hide the weaknesses of its security forces. He argued that the attacks occur hundreds of kilometres from the Afghan border. He also acknowledged that tense relations between the neighbours are harming both countries.

International organisations estimate that about 6,000 Pakistani Taliban fighters are currently based in Afghanistan, where TTP militants and other extremist groups are reported to receive training.

Otunbayeva, who also headed the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), met with Taliban refugee minister Abdul Kabir in Kabul for a farewell meeting. Kabir thanked her for her efforts during her tenure and praised the UN’s work in the country.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees said the meeting was held to mark the end of her assignment. According to the ministry, Otunbayeva reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to humanitarian aid, noting that 25 UN teams have been deployed to quake-hit areas and will begin distributing relief once assessments are complete.

The UN Security Council has announced that Otunbayeva’s mandate ends in September. She will deliver her final report at a council session on Afghanistan this month, where a civil society representative and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights are also expected to speak.

During her meeting with Kabir, Otunbayeva highlighted a $23 million project to address migration challenges in northern Afghanistan, with a second phase planned for Nimroz and Farah provinces.

Kabir reiterated that the Taliban have formed a committee to coordinate relief for earthquake victims and called for closer cooperation between international agencies and Taliban authorities. He also said his ministry has drafted a strategy to address the root causes of migration, pending technical review.

International organisations, however, continue to deliver aid through humanitarian partners rather than directly through the Taliban, citing sanctions and concerns about misuse. Reports have indicated that the Taliban have diverted or seized portions of humanitarian assistance.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Otunbayeva as his special representative in September 2022. She previously served as president of Kyrgyzstan from 2010 to 2011 and held several terms as the country’s foreign minister.

Residents of Nurgal district said that many people are still buried beneath collapsed homes. An elderly man told the Guardian that People have lost their homes and don’t even have utensils to cook with. They also need more doctors; medical and rescue teams are very few, and people are still under the rubble.

According to Taliban authorities, the earthquake killed more than 2,200 people. In Nurgal alone, over 1,000 people died and more than 5,700 homes were destroyed.

Survivors in quake-hit villages say they still lack food, tents and medical care because of difficult terrain and shrinking international aid.

Another woman, who said she lost more than 30 relatives, added that she lost her husband, sons and grandchildren. "All I have left is a piece of cloth. I don’t even have money to buy a single paracetamol tablet,” she added.

Aid agencies say women face particular barriers to treatment in conservative Kunar, where many cannot seek help from male health workers. International organisations also cite access challenges and a sharp drop in funding, much of it linked to foreign donors cutting support over the Taliban’s restrictions on women.

Since February 2025, 422 health centres across Afghanistan have closed due to funding cuts, including 80 in the east, 15 in Kunar and 29 in Nangarhar, leaving survivors more vulnerable.

the Norwegian Refugee Council said in a statement that the situation on the ground is critical, and entire quake-hit areas need urgent assistance. Funding shortages have limited the speed and scale of the humanitarian response.

The group said some families in Kunar are living in overcrowded tents sheltering up to 100 women and children, without clean water or sanitation.

The International Organization for Migration said budget cuts have reduced its presence in affected areas, with most aid being sent from Kabul, causing delays and higher costs.

The World Health Organization and other agencies have deployed mobile teams and ambulances, but access to remote villages remains nearly impossible.

The UN humanitarian coordination office said 25 inter-agency teams have reached some districts, though access remains restricted and poor weather has slowed relief. The UN has allocated $10 million in emergency funding, but aid officials warn it will cover only a fraction of the needs.

The organisation stated that Afghan Christian refugees have received official notices indicating they could be deported to Afghanistan at any moment.

The ICC noted that its findings suggest that while US authorities show empathy towards Afghan Christian refugees, they have been unwilling to provide firm guarantees or substantial assistance. According to the statement, US officials have directed Afghan Christian refugees to pursue their cases through standard immigration channels.

The religious organisation raised its concerns following a report published last week by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The USCIRF, also based in the US, stated in its report that the Taliban continues to suppress and target religious minorities in Afghanistan.

Vicky Hartzler, Chair of the USCIRF, said: “If forced to return to Afghanistan, all Afghans, including religious minorities, are at severe risk of persecution.”

The ICC highlighted that Afghan Christians are primarily first-generation converts from Islam, who, if identified, face extremely severe penalties. The Taliban, driven by its ideological stance, considers conversion from Islam to be “apostasy,” which carries heavy punishments, including execution.

The ICC also noted that with the suspension of the US refugee admissions programme following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the intake of religious groups facing persecution has been halted. The organisation’s statement explained that prior to the suspension, ethnic and religious minorities at risk of persecution could apply for refugee status. However, with the programme’s suspension, some refugees previously approved for entry into the US have been transferred to camps abroad.

The USCIRF has called for the reinstatement of Temporary Protected Status for Afghan refugees. Asif Mahmood, Vice-Chair of the USCIRF, stated: “By prioritizing vulnerable Afghan religious minorities, the administration and Congress signal their commitment to freedom of religion or belief.”