Afghanistan: unblock aid to earthquake victims and end “gender apartheid”  

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

MEPs call for aid to reach all earthquake victims in Afghanistan, where the regime’s restrictive gender policies are obstructing aid deliveries.

In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 504 votes in favour, 74 against, and 30 abstentions, the European Parliament calls for a stronger emergency aid response to the recent earthquake in Kunar, Afghanistan.

Emergency relief needs to be scaled up

MEPs are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The emergency response should be scaled up, in particular to reach underserved populations. As international foreign aid cuts have severely affected programmes in Afghanistan, MEPs say the European Commission should urgently increase EU basic needs support for the country.

Taliban committing “crime against humanity”

Parliament denounces the Taliban regime’s deliberate abandonment of women and girls who are victims of the earthquake “as a crime against humanity”. Noting the regime’s restrictions on aid deliveries to women and girls, MEPs call on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to lift all restrictions that limit the distribution of humanitarian aid. To boost the delivery of aid, MEPs call for more engagement with regional partners and trusted NGOs to bypass Taliban interference and ensure aid delivery.

End “gender apartheid”

MEPs condemn the Taliban’s numerous gender-based restrictions and discriminatory policies that prevent Afghan women from accessing education, medical training, healthcare, and humanitarian work, which amount to a “gender apartheid”. The EU should support recognising gender apartheid as a crime against humanity, and the Taliban regime should immediately lift restrictions on female humanitarian workers and women working for civil society organisations. Parliament also condemns the Taliban’s recent decision to shut down the internet nationwide, causing widespread disruption.

Increase pressure on the Taliban

MEPs condemn persistent violence against women, including rape, sexual violence and forced child marriages in Afghanistan. To increase pressure on Taliban leaders responsible for human rights violations, the EU and member states should adopt targeted sanctions, asset freezes, and travel bans against them, and refrain from resuming diplomatic contacts with the regime.

Assist with asylum processes for human rights defenders

MEPs note with concern that human rights defenders, journalists and other public figures that supported democratic development in Afghanistan are waiting in Pakistan for their EU asylum requests to be processed. Recently, deportations from Pakistan to Afghanistan have also targeted these groups, and EU member states should assist with these applications processes where possible.

Background

On 31 August 2025 a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit the province of Kunar in Eastern Afghanistan, causing over 2,200 deaths and thousands of injuries, and destroying more than 6,700 homes.

The EU and its member states are among the largest humanitarian donors to Afghanistan. They have approved €1 million in emergency funding, in addition to the €161 million in humanitarian aid already allocated in 2025.