UN confirms female staff being blocked by Taliban from working on earthquake response in Afghanistan
Taliban deploys armed guards outside UN compounds
- The Taliban has deployed armed guards outside the UN compound in Kabul, Afghanistan, preventing local female staff from attending work.
- Security personnel were also stationed outside the World Bank and Asian Development Bank offices, and UN field offices across the country.
- The UN is urging the Taliban to reverse the ban, warning it severely hinders critical humanitarian aid, particularly for earthquake victims.
- The UN stated that these actions disregard previous agreements that allowed female staff to deliver critical assistance in a culturally sensitive and principled way.
- Officials express concern that the ban could deter international donors, jeopardising life-saving work for millions of Afghans.