Overview

• The United Nations urged Taliban authorities to lift restrictions barring its Afghan women staff from work, warning that assistance for earthquake survivors and other vulnerable people is at risk.
• Security forces are stationed at entrances to UN premises in Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif, blocking women employees from entering compounds and traveling to field locations.
• UNHCR closed eight centres supporting returnees on Sept. 9 because female staff were barred, and it has paused activities at sites where cash support is provided.
• The closed facilities typically served about 7,000 people daily, and UNHCR says it cannot conduct interviews or collect data for the 52% of returnee women without women workers.
• UN agencies report tighter enforcement after years of de facto exceptions, have launched a $140 million earthquake appeal, and are negotiating with the de facto authorities while citing breaches of UN staff privileges and immunities.