August 4, 2000
AP
News
United Nations -- The United Nations warned all Afghanistan women working for
the world organization there to stay home for their own protection because
of an edict by the country's ruling Taliban militia against women working.
"Secretary-general Kofi Annan is deeply
concerned over the humanitarian impact of the edict,'' U.N. deputy spokesman
Manoel Almeida e Silva said, noting the restrictions come at a time when
Afghanistan is facing a severe drought and an unprecedented food shortage.
In early July, the Taliban issued an
order barring Afghan women from working for international organizations,
with the exception of the health sector.
Women had been joined several
international aid organizations. But the edict revoked the concession.
"As a result, the United Nations has
no choice but to caution all Afghan women directly employed by the
organization and its programs to stay home until further notice, for their
own protection,'' Almeida e Silva said.
U.N. officials have been negotiating with
the Taliban in an attempt to get the edict rescinded, concerned that it
will seriously affect the aid community's ability to assist the most
vulnerable people, particularly women and children.
The secretary-general underscored the
critical need to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people,
noting that one quarter of the 1.8 million residents in Kabul are estimated
to be dependent on aid for survival, Almeida e Silva said.
