WFP to ensure suitable environment for female staff

KABUL (Pajhwok): World Food Program (WFP) deputy executive director Carl Skau has stressed the importance of female employees’ role in delivering humanitarian assistance to the Afghans during his meetings with Afghan officials.

Skau told the officials that they were working on preparing a suitable working environment for women workers.

The caretaker government of Afghanistan has banned women from working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Wahidullah Amani, WFP spokesman, in a statement sent to Pajhwok Afghan News said Carl Skau visited Afghanistan last week and reiterated his organization’s commitments with Afghanistan.

The statement quoted Skau as saying: “It is clear WFP activites in Afghanistan save lives of people on a daily basis, I was told at a food assistance distribution center for widows that how much important is this food assistance for every one of them and their children, farmers showed me all projects that were implemented by WFP in this community and those projects saved them from drought and destruction of floods”.

He said during his trip he also saw women at vocational education centers who could make an income for their families and purchase bread for them.

According to the statement, Carl Skau met officials of some organizations of the UN, diplomats and officials of some other NGOs during his five day trip to Kabul and Parwan provinces.

Carl Skau said: “We are trying to include our female employees  in our humanitarian mission to make sure that all Afghan girls, boys, women and men have equal access to the aid of WFP”.

He said: “The world cannot turn its back on the people of Afghanistan; we must find ways to ensure a safe and appropriate working environment for women and men, but without adequate funding we cannot provide the support that is needed by girls, boys, women and men across the country”.

According to the statement, Carl Skau while wrapping up his visit urged the continuation of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The statement said WFP urgently needed $918 million for the next six months in order to maintain aid delivery in Afghanistan.

aw/ma