Key Points:
- Afghanistan Earthquake: 2,200 dead, 3,600+ injured, thousands displaced.
- Female Aid Workers: WHO urges Taliban to ease restrictions.
- Healthcare: Facility closures and staff shortage threaten maternal care.
A powerful magnitude-6 Afghanistan Earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on September 1, 2025, leaving widespread devastation in its wake. The disaster claimed the lives of around 2,200 people, injured more than 3,600, and displaced thousands who now face the dual burden of homelessness and urgent medical needs. Already fragile from years of conflict and aid reductions, Afghanistan’s healthcare system is now under immense strain, struggling to deliver essential services to survivors.
Women, in particular, face acute barriers to accessing medical treatment. In conservative Afghan society, many are unable to seek care from male doctors or travel without a male guardian, making the shortage of female health professionals a critical gap in the emergency response. The earthquake has thus magnified an already dire humanitarian situation, creating conditions where many women and children remain cut off from lifesaving healthcare.
WHO Calls for Policy Exemptions
The World Health Organization has appealed to Taliban authorities to lift restrictions that prevent female health workers from traveling freely or working without a male guardian. These rules, introduced in 2022, have severely limited women’s participation in the workforce, including in health and aid sectors. Although limited exemptions exist in certain fields such as health and education, they remain inconsistent and insufficient in the face of a disaster of this magnitude.
WHO officials stressed that without clear exemptions, vital healthcare services—particularly for women—cannot be delivered effectively. The organisation highlighted the disproportionate impact on women and girls, many of whom are dealing with trauma, the loss of male family members, or urgent maternal and mental health needs. The absence of qualified female doctors compounds the crisis, leaving midwives and nurses to shoulder responsibilities far beyond their scope.
Furthermore, the WHO has raised an alarm over the long-term consequences of restrictions on girls’ education. With future generations of female doctors effectively cut off from training opportunities, Afghanistan risks an even deeper healthcare crisis in the years to come.
Health System on the Brink
The Afghanistan Earthquake struck at a time when Afghanistan’s health system was already under severe pressure from funding cuts and facility closures. Earlier this year, dozens of health centers shut down due to a lack of international support, and the quake caused additional damage, forcing several more to close. The cumulative effect has left entire communities without access to even the most basic healthcare.
The crisis is particularly stark for pregnant women. Estimates suggest that nearly 12,000 pregnant women were affected by the Afghanistan Earthquake, underscoring the urgent need for maternal healthcare services. With limited female staff available, these women face significant risks during childbirth and recovery.
WHO has warned that without immediate action to ease restrictions on female aid workers, the response to Afghanistan’s earthquake disaster will remain critically hampered. The organisation insists that women’s health professionals must be allowed unrestricted access to affected areas if the humanitarian response is to succeed in preventing further loss of life and long-term health consequences.
