UNDP: Ban on women workers affecting operations

KABUL (Pajhwok): The ban on women workers has affected UN operations in Afghanistan, says an official of the world body.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Representative Stephen Rodriques said in an interview the ban had inflicted a loss of millions of dollars on Afghanistan’s economy.

He told TOLOnews: “In the last couple of years, the economy has contracted. After August 2021, we have seen over 20 percent contraction (of the economy.”

Rodriques said only six percent of Afghan women were working in Afghanistan. “We are working with our partners, the embassy of Japan, IICA, as well as the EU because it is not just this initiative that we have launched.”

The UNDP representative they had initiated a programme together with the European Union for collectively supporting women, especially small entrepreneurs.

About the damage caused by the Herat earthquake, he said they were focused on a few specific areas; including permanent shelters.

“The winter is coming, so it is urgent that we begin to rebuild homes within a month. Homes that are stronger, homes that can stand future earthquakes,” he added.

The UNDP official estimated the world body needed $93.6 million to deal with the challenges being faced Herat quake survivors.

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