UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, has announced that during its support programs in Afghanistan, 67% of the 55,937 vulnerable children receiving educational support were girls.
The organization has published a report on providing health and nutritional services to millions of children and supporting vulnerable families in Afghanistan.
According to UNICEF’s statistics, community-based education programs and the establishment of temporary educational facilities have assisted 55,937 vulnerable children in Afghanistan.
The report states that girls make up 67% of these children, constituting the majority of those receiving this support.
UNICEF emphasized in part of its report that these programs have been implemented for returning children and those who have dropped out of school—a group that faces even greater barriers to accessing educational opportunities amid existing restrictions on education.
In terms of economic support for families, the cash transfer program for mothers and children has reached 65,162 families, benefiting a total of 576,279 individuals.
This comes at a time when Afghanistan’s educational system continues to face widespread challenges regarding infrastructure, equipment, and a shortage of teachers. In many remote areas, there are no schools, leaving many children, especially girls, deprived of education.
Since the return of the interim government to power in August 2021, girls have been barred from education beyond primary school, and women have been excluded from university education.
In addition to educational restrictions, women and girls also face limitations in employment, mobility, and participation in public life.
