UNICEF Warns Return of Two Million Afghans Will Deepen Girls’ Education Crisis

UNICEF warned that the return of over two million Afghans this year will worsen the education crisis, leaving more girls out of school.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the return of more than two million Afghans from neighboring countries this year will further increase the number of girls deprived of schooling.

In a report released on Wednesday, September 17, UNICEF noted that four years have passed since girls above grade six were banned from education in Afghanistan. By the end of 2025, the agency estimated, more than 2.2 million teenage girls will remain out of school.

The agency highlighted that after the recent devastating earthquake, which killed more than a thousand children, the vital role of educated women in health and social services has become even clearer.

According to the report, the ban not only denies girls the right to education but also restricts personal growth, social interaction, and the possibility of building a future.

UNICEF also expressed concern over rising mental health challenges, early marriages, and increased birth rates, linking these issues to the continued exclusion of girls from schools.

The organization once again urged Afghanistan’s authorities to lift the ban and allow all girls—from primary to secondary and beyond—to pursue their education.

The appeal underscores the growing international alarm over the humanitarian and social costs of prolonged restrictions, warning that an entire generation of Afghanistan girls risks being left behind.

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