KABUL: Taliban have in Kandahar province ordered female aid workers this week to stop work on a refugee project, according to an official letter, reinforcing rules against women working despite exemptions sought by some organisations.
The letter between departments of the ministry for refugees in Kandahar, the Taliban’s historical heartland, said aid agencies had been in violation of the orders in work related to refugees in Spin Boldak, a town near the border with Pakistan.
The letter was confirmed by a spokesman for the provincial governor.
“All partner organisations that are working with the Department of Refugees and Repatriation of Spin Boldak … should ask their female colleagues not to come to their work and stay at home until further notice,” the letter said.
A spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian coordination office said the body was aware of the instruction and seeking clarity.
The letter underscored the uncertainty of the operating environment in Afghanistan for aid agencies who say they intend to stay and deliver aid during a humanitarian crisis, but seek exemptions to let female staff work, to reach female beneficiaries and avoid breaching UN charter principles.
The Taliban administration signalled in January it would work on a set of written guidelines that could allow aid groups to operate with female staff in some cases, but it has not yet done so.
“As you all know, according to the decree of the supreme leader, the female employees of the organisations cannot go to work until further notice … unfortunately, some partner organisations have asked their female employees to come to work in flagrant violation,” the letter added, referring to Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme spiritual leader who is based in Kandahar.
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