World Health Organization: Taliban Restrictions on Female Doctors Hamper Earthquake Victims’ Treatment

Photo: Getty Images / via BBC

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Taliban restrictions on female doctors in Kunar have seriously hindered the care of earthquake victims.

The organization wrote in a new report on Sunday (September 7) that restrictions on women’s movement have even affected children’s access to medical services.

According to WHO, six mobile health teams have been deployed to Noorgul district and other areas of Kunar, but access to remote and mountainous villages remains a major challenge.

The report states that about 84,000 people have been affected by the recent earthquakes and that the organization has requested four million dollars in emergency assistance to address the immediate needs of the victims.

Earlier, local sources had also reported a severe shortage of female doctors in Kunar and Nangarhar, an issue that has put the lives of many women and children at risk.

Seven days after the disaster, rescue operations are still ongoing. The Taliban have so far confirmed the deaths of more than 2,200 people.