Afghan Earthquake & Healthcare Crisis
A Compounded Tragedy in Kunar
On September 1, 2025, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Kunar Province, creating a massive humanitarian crisis. This natural disaster is tragically amplified by a man-made one: the Taliban's severe restrictions are systematically denying thousands of injured women and girls access to life-saving medical care. This dashboard explores the scale of the disaster and the critical healthcare barriers women face.
Lives Lost
0
People Injured
0
Women & Girls Injured
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(Estimated 30% of total)
The Collapse of Women's Healthcare
The ability to treat injured women is crippled by a systemic lack of female healthcare professionals, a direct result of Taliban policies. The charts below illustrate this devastating decline and highlight the specific population of female earthquake victims now at extreme risk.
Decline of Female Healthcare Workers
Injured Population at Risk
Rising Maternal Mortality
Even before the earthquake, the ban on female healthcare providers had a measurable, tragic impact. A 2023 study estimated a 20% increase in maternal deaths, a direct consequence of these policies. Afghanistan's maternal mortality ratio now stands at a shocking 638 per 100,000 live births.
A Timeline of Restriction
The current crisis is not an accident but the result of deliberate policies enacted over time to remove women from public life, including from both receiving and providing healthcare. This timeline highlights key decrees that have dismantled the healthcare system for women.
August 2021
The Taliban returns to power. Many female professionals, including doctors and healthcare workers, flee the country or are forced into domestic confinement, beginning the sharp decline in available female medical staff.
Ongoing Edicts
In various provinces, restrictions are enforced that prohibit male doctors from examining or treating female patients, creating insurmountable barriers to care, especially in emergencies and rural areas.
December 2024
A formal decree halts all higher education, including medical training, for women. This policy effectively cuts off the future supply of female doctors, nurses, and midwives, ensuring the crisis will deepen over time.
International Outcry & Local Inaction
The global community has sounded the alarm over the unfolding tragedy. However, the Taliban's response to the earthquake has been criticized as slow and inadequate, leaving local youth and international organizations to fill the void amid immense challenges.
Taliban Response
Accused of a sluggish and inadequate response. Critics suggest their priority is awaiting foreign aid rather than mounting a robust, internally-led relief effort. This inaction directly harms their own citizens in a time of dire need.
Aid Organizations
Groups like the UN, World Vision, and Care International are on the ground but face immense challenges. They warn that Taliban policies are "limiting access to life-saving services," with women and girls being the most vulnerable population.
International Community
Expressions of alarm and calls for global intervention are widespread. Former VP Amrullah Saleh's posts on social media have drawn global attention, highlighting the deadly consequences of the Taliban's "ignorant mindset."
