More than 60 percent of those missing after the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan are women, the United Nations said Friday, warning that female survivors face heightened risks of violence, exploitation and lack of access to health care.
Susan Ferguson, the UN’s special representative for Afghan women, said women and girls accounted for over half of the victims and the majority of those still unaccounted for. Speaking at a briefing hosted by UN Women, she said the disaster has left women facing a long-term crisis.
During a recent visit to Kunar province, Ferguson said she saw widespread destruction of infrastructure and a lack of sanitation facilities for women and girls. Many are forced to travel long distances, exposing them to violence and landmines.
She also warned of rising domestic violence, which often increases after disasters due to displacement, loss of livelihoods and other pressures. The UN has identified at least 463 female-headed households in the affected areas. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are among the most vulnerable, with all women and girls in need of health services.
Restrictions imposed by the Taliban, including bans on women working for NGOs, attending university and limits on movement, have left Afghanistan critically short of female health workers, further worsening the crisis. Women have also been disproportionately affected in accessing humanitarian aid.
Ferguson called for $2.5 million to fund a six- to 12-month emergency programme to expand women’s and girls’ access to essential services in quake-hit areas, stressing the “vital importance” of female aid workers.
