Taliban Interference Halts 44 Humanitarian Operations in Afghanistan

DID Press: Taliban administration interference in July led to temporary suspension of 44 humanitarian activities and the closure of one medical center across Afghanistan, reported UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to OCHA’s report, 104 access-related incidents were recorded last month, with 95 percent attributed to Taliban authorities. Central Afghanistan was most affected, accounting for 30 of the incidents.

Taliban interference included demands for staff lists, restrictions on women and girls accessing services, obstruction of program delivery, and intervention in procurement and hiring processes. Gender-related restrictions made up 16 percent of all July incidents.

OCHA warned these measures have raised serious concerns about the safety and confidentiality of humanitarian workers and aid recipients. A total of 728 access-related incidents have been recorded since the implementation of Taliban’s “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law”.

The report added that three humanitarian workers were detained by Taliban authorities in July, while violence against aid personnel and assets rose fourfold compared to the previous month.