A UN-led group of humanitarians are hoping that the Taliban will allow Afghan women to again work with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground following last month’s ban, four senior aid officials told journalists in New York, according to a press release issued by UN.

Representing the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), they stressed that the world’s largest humanitarian operation – supporting some 28 million people in Afghanistan – simply cannot function without women staff. 

The officials reported on their mission to the country last week, in the wake of the edict prohibiting Afghan women from working with local and international aid agencies, announced on 24 December. 

Days later, the de facto Taliban authorities authorized women to continue working in healthcare.   

A similar exception was made in education, though focused on the primary level as Afghan girls and women have been barred from attending high school and university.