UNICEF on Saturday urged the interim Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan to lift the ban on girls' secondary education as the new school year begins without girls for a third consecutive year.

As new school year starts in Afghanistan, almost 400,000 more girls deprived of their right to education, bringing total to 2.2 million, according to the United Nations agency for children.

The agency stated that the consequences for these girls - and for Afghanistan - are catastrophic.

"This decision continues to harm the future of millions of Afghan girls. If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school," - UNICEF stated, highlighting the increased risk of child marriage and its negative repercussions on their well-being and health.

In addition, the country will experience a shortage of qualified female health workers. This will endanger lives.

"With fewer female doctors and midwives, girls and women will not receive the medical treatment and support they need. We are estimating an additional 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths. These are not just numbers, they represent lives lost and families shattered," - the agency added. 

UNICEF has urge the de facto authorities to lift this ban immediately.

"Education is not just a fundamental right; it is the pathway to a healthier, more stable, and prosperous society,” it added.

Despite the ban, UNICEF was able to provide access to education for 445,000 children through community-based learning—64 per cent of whom are girls. 

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