U.N. halts some programs in Afghanistan after ban on women aid workers

FILE PHOTO: People walk in a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, November 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ali Khara

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations said on Wednesday that some "time-critical" programs in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely need to be paused because of a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women aid workers.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths, the heads of U.N. agencies and several aid groups said in a joint statement that women's "participation in aid delivery is not negotiable and must continue," calling on the authorities to reverse the decision.