RISE
FOR AND WITH THE
WOMEN OF
AFGHANISTAN
The withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan was catastrophic , leaving countless people on the ground on the precipice of hunger , poverty and violence at the hands of the Taliban . Swiftly , the rights of women and girls were erased leaving them without a way to pursue education . The City of Knowledge in Kabul was forced to close its doors .
The Taliban ’ s takeover also made it difficult for women to get comprehensive healthcare , particularly in remote villages and areas that have been struggling for decades . Healthcare facilities were and remain desperately needed , especially during the winter season and with the escalation of COVID-19 , as well as the severe drought that swept across the country . In most of the country there are not many options for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers to receive care . Women usually give birth at home under the supervision of a local midwife and many die of a simple sepsis . Afghanistan still has the highest maternal mortality rate of any country . Many children are facing an extreme shortage of food and , according to public health figures , an estimated 80 percent of Afghan children are now malnourished . In a preliminary report issued after the US withdrawal , UNICEF said that more than 2 million children were suffering from malnutrition and were at risk of losing their lives . In some cases , patients experiencing mild disease-related symptoms were not being treated in time , creating serious and incurable situations .