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U.N. Aid Workers Halt Work in Afghanistan After Taliban Bans Female Members

HeadlineApr 07, 2023

More than 3,300 Afghan men and women employed by the United Nations remained idled for a second straight day Thursday, after the Taliban ordered a ban on women staff in Afghanistan. This is Amina Mohammed, the U.N.’s deputy secretary-general. 

Amina Mohammed: “It’s a clear violation of our fundamental human rights of women. I have met our female staff members, and they’re essential for U.N.’s work, including in the delivery of life-saving assistance. And some national colleagues have already experienced restrictions on their movements.”

This comes as the U.N. warns a record 28.3 million people in Afghanistan are in need of assistance this year, with 6 million of them “one step away from famine.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration has released its long-anticipated report on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The report found U.S. officials should have begun an evacuation sooner, but determined actions taken by former President Trump set the stage for chaos as the Taliban overran the capital, Kabul.

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