Afghan women survivors of last week’s devastating earthquake in Kunar Province have alleged that they were neglected during rescue and relief operations due to Taliban-imposed restrictions that prevent men from making physical contact with unrelated women.
In an interview with the media houses, Aysha, a 19-year-old resident of the province, said that no one came forward to help the women or even asked them about their needs. She recounted that even those who were bleeding or trapped under rubble were pushed aside, while men and children were given priority. She stressed that women were gathered in one corner and left unattended.
Reports suggest that even in death, women were subjected to indignity. In cases where no male relatives were available, bodies of women were dragged by their clothing to avoid direct contact.
Muhzaheb, a 33-year-old volunteer who travelled to Mazar Dara in Kunar, told local reporters that it appeared as though women were invisible during the rescue operations. He observed that members of the all-male medical teams hesitated to pull women from beneath the rubble, forcing injured women to wait until female volunteers from nearby villages arrived to assist. According to him, men and children were treated first, while women remained apart, waiting for medical attention.
The earthquake, which struck Afghanistan on August 31, claimed more than 1,500 lives and left nearly 3,600 people injured, flattening numerous villages across the region, according to figures released by the Afghan authorities.
Leave a Reply