Rescuers in Afghanistan Ignore Women During Earthquake: Reasons for the Shocking Prohibition.

The Situation of Women After Earthquakes in Afghanistan

According to inkorr.com: After powerful earthquakes in Afghanistan, rescue services controlled by the Taliban were hesitant to provide assistance to women, primarily pulling men from the rubble. This situation is due to the strict religious beliefs of the Taliban, which prohibit physical contact between men and women, even in critical conditions. As a result, women trapped in the rubble suffered injuries but received no medical aid.

Rescue teams, composed of men, hesitated to pull out women, hoping that other women, particularly from villages, would be able to rescue them. Even those women who managed to free themselves from the rubble were often denied medical assistance.

“It seemed that women were invisible. Initially, aid was given to men and children, while women sat separately, waiting for help,” shared a volunteer.

According to reports, at least 2,200 people died as a result of the earthquake, and 3,600 were injured. While the Taliban did not publish specific injury data by gender, testimonies from doctors and women indicate that women faced the highest risk and harm.

Thus, women found themselves in an extremely difficult situation, as rescue services controlled by the Taliban ignored their needs, leaving them without proper medical assistance.

This tragedy highlights not only the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan but also the critical situation that women find themselves in. Ignoring their needs in times of disaster points to deep social and cultural barriers that hinder the achievement of equality. The situation requires a response from the international community and organizations that focus on human rights to ensure women have access to assistance and support during crisis moments.