Female Midwife from Tajikistan Killed by Unknown Knife Attacker in Kunduz

Adolat Hamidi, a midwife from Kulob in Tajikistan who provided maternity and healthcare services in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province, was killed by an unidentified attacker while returning home from work on Saturday, local official Ghulamuddin Khaksar said.

Khaksar stated that Hamidi was attacked with a knife by an unknown individual, leading to her death. Her body was transferred to Tajikistan on Sunday, March 15.

Security authorities have launched an investigation to identify and arrest the suspect, Khaksar added.

The incident underscores ongoing security challenges for female healthcare workers in northern Afghanistan. Female doctors and nurses have faced threats and violent attacks in various parts of the country while traveling to work or serving in medical facilities, according to local reports.

Local authorities and rights groups have called for stronger protection measures to ensure women in the health sector can work safely.

Afghanistan faces a shortage of female medical professionals, especially in rural areas where cultural restrictions limit women's access to male doctors.