Afghan rulers urged to reverse ban on women aid workers

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The vast majority of U.N. Security Council members are urging Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to immediately reverse all “oppressive” restrictions on girls and women including the latest ban on woman working for humanitarian organizations which is exacerbating the already critical humanitarian crisis in the country. The joint statement Friday from 11 of the 15 council members said female aid workers are crucial to addressing Afghanistan’s “dire humanitarian situation” because they provide “critical life-saving support to women and girls” that men can’t reach. They demanded “unhindered access … regardless of gender.”