The Ministry of Economy said on Monday that the resumption of activities of Save the Children is important for improving children’s education, health and nutrition.
A spokesman for the ministry, Abdul Rahman Habib, said they are ready to cooperate with organizations based on Islamic values.
“The resumption of the activities of Save the Children in Afghanistan in improves health services, nutrition and education for the children, while considering the rules, and in coordination with relevant organizations, we are ready to support in all aspects,” he said.
This comes as Save the Children said it is restarting some of its activities where reliable assurances had been given for a full and safe return to work for its female staff.
The announcement by Save the Children comes three weeks after the Islamic Emirate announced that women were banned from working in NGOs, a move that forced some NGOs to halt their operations in Afghanistan.
“While the majority of our programs remain on hold, we are restarting some activities – such as health, nutrition and some education services – where we have received clear, reliable assurances from relevant authorities that our female staff will be safe and can work without obstruction,” Save the Children said in a statement.
According to Save the Children, Women make up 50% of its workforce and are crucial for reaching women and girls.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Ministry of Border and Tribal Affairs said that the deputy special envoy of the UN urged the Islamic Emirate’s leadership to reconsider the decision to ban female women from working in non-governmental organizations.
“The acting minister of tribal and borders affairs assured him that the current restrictions are temporary and that a political solution will be found for it,” said Hamdullah Fitrat, a spokesman for the Ministry of Border and Tribal Affairs.
Analysts said that there is a need for female employees to return to their jobs in NGOs.
“On one side, the employees of these organizations lose their income sources while on the other hand, those families who receive aid from these NGOs will not be benefited anymore,” said Darya Khan Baheer, an economist.
Figures by the Ministry of Economy show that more than 2,500 government and non-government organizations are registered in the ministry. More than 170 of them are foreign organizations.
