we'rejoined here in kabul by samira syed rahman, who works for the international charity, the international rescue committeeal rescue committee was able to reach five million afghans last year. we've suspended most of our activities across the country because we are not able to work without our female staff at all levels of our organisation. we were already seeing earlier at the end of last year that most families around this country were having to choose between food or heating. the taliban recently clarified that they'll make an exception when it comes to the health ministry, because they do need women doctors and nurses to serve women of this country. is it possible that step by step, this could be reversed? as we saw with the health sector, it's notjust doctors and nurses. we also need female staff at all levels of our organisation in admin roles, in finance roles, in technical support to work alongside ourfemale colleagues. this is a conservative society. samira syed, we wish you the best and all eyes now are on this high level united nations delegation. it says there needs to be a woman. there also ne

we'rejoined here in kabul by samira sayed rahman, who works for the international charity, the international rescue committeeo reach five million afghans last year. we've suspended most of our activities across the country because we are not able to work without our female staff at all levels of our organisation. we were already seeing earlier last — at the end of last year that most families around this country were having to choose between food or heating. the taliban recently clarified that they'll make an exception when it comes to the health ministry because they do need women doctors and nurses to serve women of this country. is it possible that, step by step, this edict could be reversed ? as we saw with the health sector, it's notjust doctors and nurses. we also need female staff at all levels of our organisation — in admin roles, in finance roles, in technical support — to work alongside ourfemale colleagues. this is a conservative society. samira sayed, we wish you the best and we — all eyes now are on this high level united nations delegation. it says there needs to be a woman. there also needs to

we'rejoined here in kabul by samira syed rahman, who works for the international charity, the international rescue committeeable to reach 5 million afghans last year. we've suspended most of our activities across the country because we are not able to work without our female staff at all levels of our organisation. we were already seeing earlier last...at the end of last year that most families around this country were having to choose between food or heating. the taliban recently clarified that they'll make an exception when it comes to the health ministry because they do need women doctors and nurses to serve women of this country. is it possible that step by step, this could be reversed? as we saw with the health sector, it's notjust doctors and nurses. we also need female staff at all levels of our organisation in admin roles, in finance roles, in technical support to work alongside our female colleagues. this is a conservative society. samira syed, we wish you the best and all eyes now are on this high level united nations delegation. it says there needs to be a woman. there also needs to be women comi

for us, at the international rescue committee, we have over $3000.00 female staff in our organization. these are not just frontline staff including doctors and nurses, but also staff in port roles in admin, in finance, in operations and management. and we feel that it is impossible for us to deliver safe and effective aid to the most vulnerable communities if we don't have women working at all levels of our organization. and that's certainly a fact that's easy to understand, sir, korea, when we look beyond sort of some of those latest restrictions, specifically the one we were talking about there. let's look at some of the headlines actually that we put together the kind of highlights some of these restrictions. i want to ask you, what is the real impact? what worries you most in terms of how this is impacting women there right now daily i'm not talking about the humanitarian crisis. when you see i've got some ease in about crisis and that's the impact of taliban policies. and they tell me time or day brutality. if you see the absence of justice, the form of the government, so i don't

we'rejoined here in kabul by samira sayed rahman, who works for the international charity, the international rescue committeehans last year. we've suspended most of our activities across the country because we are not able to work without our female staff at all levels of our organisation. we were already seeing earlier last — at the end of last year that most families around this country were having to choose between food or heating. the taliban recently clarified that they'll make an exception when it comes to the health ministry because they do need women doctors and nurses to serve women of this country. is it possible that, step by step, this edict could be reversed ? as we saw with the health sector, it's notjust doctors and nurses. we also need female staff at all levels of our organisation — in admin roles, in finance roles, in technical support — to work alongside ourfemale colleagues. this is a conservative society. samira sayed, we wish you the best and we — all eyes now are on this high level united nations delegation. it says there needs to be a woman. there also needs to be women coming to this

the international rescue committee is one of several, and she owes out that i suspended their operations awfully inaccessible. our stance remains that it is impossible for us to, you know, deliver services and continue our activities. if we do not have our female staff group, young among some 1200 and she owes across the country, women workers have provided services in health care education in water and sanitation. there are vital for on the ground operations and conservative afghanistan, it is considered inappropriate for women to speak to a man who is not a close relative to the without female staff and g o care says lee would not have reached half a 1000000 women and children last year or twice every hoyt is a very important that of free men. should doctor fee mean a where the beneficiary also feels more comfortable talking with the female. but the taliban exists. 8 can still reach to needy. if it gets delivered to men in the family, instead, they say the band was necessary because women were not wearing that he job for being accompanied by a male relative while traveling. this furthe

aid work there to charity suspending their operations but care save the children in the international rescue committee. now say they can restart some services with female staff after the rules were slightly amended in our, the headlines washer is intensifying its attacks in easton, ukraine as moscow tries to secure a rad victory in the dumbass region. missy of backlash. a fierce battle for control is raging. charles traffic has won this now. we're hearing a lot of heavy shilling, as you can imagine of showing that it's increased in recent days. interestingly, to put a timeline on it, or you can say that a lot of this fighting has actually increased since we saw rosen forces make gains in and around. the child was solid, all which is normal to body moot in that direction. we understand now according to ukrainian, the ukrainian military that russian forces are trying to win so cool. that city of buffalo. and interestingly, since we've been here, the smalling, the town of color shift go, which is to the southeast of here, is also getting heavily shell does a lot of heavy, heavy fighting being heard there

international rescue committee and care doings as and save the children and acute number of many programsy in health and nutrition. there is global condemnation in december when the taliban stopped letting females work until further notice. saying it was not their interpretation of the islamic dress code. most agencies stop the aid efforts. and that wadevastating for afghanistan with the population relying on humanitarian aid. and 6 million peoplere on the brink of famine. let's speak with save the children international ceo he is life with us in bbc. thank you for your time. why would you trust anything the taliban says? >> essentially, the taliban has not changed the band still wrote -- remains in place. but we have been able to incorporate some abilities. with ministries in certain provinces. with the health and nutrition itineraries which are important because they are lifesaving activities. they are absolutely essential. and the important thing to remember is that afghanistan is facing its biggest crisis in its history. it is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. and it

the international rescue committee and care havejoined save the children in resuming a number of programmestion. there was global condemnation back in december, when the taliban ordered aid organisations to exclude female staff. the vietnamese president has resigned shortly after the departure of two deputy prime ministers. all have lost theirjobs following an anti—corruption campaign launched by the hard—line communist party secretary general. he won an unprecedented third term in office last year, and appears to be consolidating his power. the swedish climate activist, greta thunberg, has been detained by the police at the site of a demonstration against the expansion of an open cast coal mine, in western germany. she had been protesting with activists seeking to stop the abandoned village of lutzerath from being demolished to make room for the mining project. the uk and the us have reaffirmed their support for ukraine in its struggle against the russian invasion. the uk foreign secretary, james cleverly, has been holding talks with us secretary of state, antony blinken, during a visit to

but care save the children and at the international rescue committee. now say they can restart the health care services with female staff after the rules were amended to allow it. again, his son is experiencing one of the wells worse humanitarian crises exacerbated by call governance. meanwhile, the highest ranking united nations delegation to visit afghan has done since the taliban. we took power, is currently in the capital, kabul, the deputy secretary general on miller. jane mohammed will hold talks with senior figures in the government, christmas roomy joins us live now from the united nations. an important visit. tell us, sir, about the purpose on this yes, well, i think it's very significant that it's being led by amena mohammed, the number 2, a deputy secretary general at the united nations, the highest ranking woman here. she's a former nigerian government minister herself also a muslim. she is leading a delegation that includes the head of human women and other un officials to talk to the government in afghanistan about the situation they are.

the international rescue committee and care havejoined save the children in resuming a number of programmese was global condemnation in december, when the tailiban ordered aid organisations not to let female staff work saying they'd not adhered to their interpretation of islamic dress code. most aid agencies stopped their aid efforts as a result. teresa casale is executive director of mina's list which works to advance women's political leadership and global peace. they do a lot of work in afghanistan. for the safety of those workers, we won't be talking about the specific projects they're involved in. she joins us now from orange county, california. thank you forjoining us. this is what the taliban say, what are you hearing from your colleagues on the ground? we are hearing there is a health waiver for the ban on women and geo workers, that is of course meaning they will be life saving measures in place — taking life—saving activities taking life—saving activities taking place in the health sector but that shouldn't necessarily be taken as something positive or a sign of the taliban is nec

a work led to charity suspending their operations, but can save the children and the international rescue committee now say they can restart their health care services with female staff after the rules were amended to allow it. i've got my son is experiencing one of the world's worst, you monetary crises exacerbated by poor governance. earlier, david wright, the chief operating officer, it save the children international, told me the ban on women working in and joe's is still in place. what's actually happening is that certain ministries and the governments are saying that they are supportive of mix teams, mix male or female teams working, doing work that is relevant to their responsibility. so the we are allowed to start health and nutrition work so about it starts in the last few days. there's also some education worth talking necessarily a nationwide thing. it's very, some problems to problem. so some purposes, we are able to restart the activities some purposes. we are not, but it really is only in those to narrow activities. what's happening? i've done some of the worst monitoring sizes in the

now care save the children on the international rescue committee. say they can. we start the health care services with female stuff off. those rules were amended to allow it. in our the headlines rusher is intensifying its attacks in east and ukraine as moscow tries to secure a rad victory in the dawn bus region. the city of backlit, a fierce battle for control is raging, shall stratford has mall. we hearing a lot of heavy shelling as you can imagine of shelling that it's increased in recent days. interestingly, to put a timeline on it, or you can say that a lot of this fighting has actually increased since we saw rosen policies. mike gains in and around the town was solid. all which is north of buck moved in that direction. we understand now according to ukrainian, the ukrainian military that russian forces are trying to win so cool. that city of buffalo. and interestingly, since we've been here this morning, the town of color ship go, which is to the southeast of it is also getting heavily show there's a lot of heavy, heavy fighting being heard there. we've see

but care save the children and the international rescue committee now say they can restart their health care services with female staff after the rules were amended to allow it to happen. afghanistan is currently experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises exacerbated by poor governance. what are we more on that side of the story? in a moment, 1st though, our diplomatic editor james bays is in dallas with more on view and delegations visit to afghanistan. it's almost 18 months as the taliban took control of afghanistan and the deputy circuits. general amena muhammad is the highest ranking member of the international community to visit in that time. she is female, she's a muslim and the u. m. believe she may have the leverage to get the taliban to change their position, particularly on the issue of women's rights here. and i've also been speaking to the pakistani foreign minister about her visit. he's been speaking to her ahead of her arrival in afghanistan. what did you discuss with her and how important is this was? oh, so i believe i have been in discussions with the dep

the international rescue committee joins me now from a man jordan. and tell us about the, the sort of a level of humanitarian assistance the is required in syria. of course, this is a country that's been hit not just by conflict, but also a policy drought effects of climate change. it seems to be the over 15000000 people across the country are now in need of aid. is that right? yes, it isn't. nothing suited to pack each, sir. a corresponding to show it will demonstrate the dire need. hundreds of thousands of people in syria are suffering and they experience doing most trophies of conflict now on crisis. and that 15000000 people are requiring humanitarian assistance is, is a record is the highest number since the crisis began. as for the am perspective, that's over 2 thirds of its higher population in need of some kind of humanitarian assistance in order to survive. and, and it's not just conflict. and so a mixture of economic crisis and even more recently, curve it manifest color outbreak in over a decade. and is pushing family a syndicates, the brai

the international rescue committee and care havejoined save the children in resuming a number of programmeslamic dress code. most aid agencies stopped their aid efforts as a result. here's david wright, spokesman for save the children international: the position of the taliban hasn't changed, so the ban still remains in place. we had been able to start some activities through local associations, with ministries in certain provinces, notably health and nutrition activities which are very important because they are life—saving activities. they are absolutely essential. you know, you really want the humanitarian community operating at full throttle with all its capacity and capability to deal with the sheer amount of need in that country, and even if we were, we still wouldn't be able to deal with it all. bbc news has learned that leaders of the church of england will not propose marriage equality for same—sex couples when they meet next month. gay marriage has been legal in the uk since 2014, but after a five year consultation on the issue, it's understood that bishops won't back a change in

here's a spokesperson from the international rescue committee.n, that goes from field staff, those who do distributions, doctors, nurses, all the way up into admin, finance and management roles. we — when the announcement was made on december 2a — we made the difficult decision to suspend our activities across the country because we felt that it was impossible for us to continue without female staff at all levels of our organisation. the restrictions on aid agencies come as temperatures plunge. authorities say a cold snap over the past week killed 70 people. these residents in kabul collect bags of coal to burn to stay warm. the price of firewood, coal and gas has skyrocketed. here's our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. and it's happening at a time when, of course, afghanistan is in the midst of the dead of winter, where temperatures plunge to —15 celsius and even lower. this last edict forbidding afghan women from working with international aid agencies is what has triggered the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, to dispatch t

the international rescue committee and care havejoined save the children in resuming a number of programmese. lets speak to save the children international�*s coo david wright. his life with us on the bbc. mr wright thank you for your time. why would you trust anything the taliban says? would you trust anything the taliban sa s? ~ , , ., , says? well, essentially, the osition says? well, essentially, the position of— says? well, essentially, the position of the _ says? well, essentially, the position of the taliban - says? well, essentially, the| position of the taliban hasn't position of the taliban hasn�*t changed. the band still remains in place. we have been able to start some activities, as you said, through local negotiations with certain ministries and provinces. notably the house and nutrition activities which are very important because they are life—saving activities and absolutely essential. the important thing to remember here is that afghanistan is facing its biggest humanitarian crisis in its history. it�*s probably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world at the moment the s

the international rescue committee and care of save the children have resumed programmes of health andband still remains in place. we _ save the children. the band still remains in place. we have i save the children. the band still remains in place. we have been| save the children. the band still i remains in place. we have been able to start some activities with ministries in certain provinces. this is going to be health and nutrition activities which are very important. they are life—saving activities. they are absolutely essential, and you know, you really want their humanitarian community upgrading capacity and capability to deal with the sheer amount of in that country. and we wouldn't be able to deal with it all. the government will be challenged in the commons today over plans to scrap thousands of eu—era laws by the end of the year. critics say the move would give too much power to ministers and civil servants, rather than to parliament. the government insists that removing regulations would help to drive economic growth. craig bennett is chief executive of the wildlife trusts.

save the children, care and the international rescue committee all resuming vital work. officials last week saying they had to lift the ban, so you were talking to taliban officials last week saying they had to lift the ban, so what you were talking to taliban officials last week saying they had to lift the ban, so what is you were talking to taliban officials last week saying they had to lift the ban, so what is the reaction to the news that is emerging? it reaction to the news that is emerging?— reaction to the news that is emerging? reaction to the news that is emeruain ? , ., ., .,, emerging? it is a glimmer of hope that some sister _ emerging? it is a glimmer of hope that some sister organisations - emerging? it is a glimmer of hope i that some sister organisations have now enough assurances that they will start at least some work in the education sector, in primary schools, with male and female teachers and ardent illustrators and also also in the health sector where doctors and nurses continued to work —— and administrators. however, it is very limited and it is n