Women and girls are expected to be among the hardest hit by the recent deadly earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, UN Women warned, urging humanitarian agencies to prioritize their needs in emergency response efforts.
In a statement, the UN agency called on international relief organizations to ensure that women and girls are at the center of the response, from immediate aid and medical care to safe shelter and protection.
“Women and girls will again bear the brunt of this disaster, so we must ensure their needs are at the heart of the response and recovery,” said Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s representative in Afghanistan. “
Ferguson stressed the critical role of Afghan women aid workers in delivering life-saving support. “This includes supporting the vital work of women humanitarians – otherwise women and girls could miss out on lifesaving assistance or information in the days ahead,” she said.
UN Women cited data from the 2023 earthquake in western Afghanistan, where nearly six out of every 10 fatalities were women, and roughly two-thirds of the injured were also female.
The agency emphasized the urgent need for increased support to meet the specific needs of women and girls, including emergency shelter, tents, cooking supplies, hygiene items, essential medicines, clean drinking water and food — many of which are reportedly running low in quake-affected areas.
