Nasir Ahmad Faiq, the acting representative of Afghanistan at the United Nations, has stated that the policies of the caretaker government have confronted an entire generation of Afghan youth with an uncertain and dark future. Mr. Faiq made these remarks at the 63rd session of the UN Commission for Social Development in New York, noting that Afghanistan is experiencing one of the most severe social and economic crises in its history, 30 years after the Copenhagen Declaration, which has plunged millions into poverty and completely excluded women and girls from public life. He emphasized at the meeting that education is the foundation of social and economic progress, but in Afghanistan, this foundation is systematically being destroyed. He pointed to the deprivation of Afghan girls and women from education and work, adding, "This gender apartheid is not only a human rights catastrophe but also an economic crisis." The acting representative of Afghanistan at the United Nations stated that no country can develop when half of its population is sidelined. Additionally, Nasir Ahmad Faiq mentioned that the ban on girls studying in medical institutes poses a risk to countless lives and will increase maternal mortality rates. He warned, "If we do not take action, the future generation of Afghanistan will be a generation without critical thinking, without opportunity, and without hope. We must provide access to quality education, modern skills, and economic opportunities to preserve Afghanistan's future." Mr. Faiq asserted that the international community should not remain indifferent to the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, and the people of Afghanistan, especially women, girls, and youth, should not be forgotten. Since regaining control over Afghanistan, the caretaker government has banned girls above the sixth grade from attending school and subsequently closed universities to female students. In a recent move, they have also prohibited girls from studying in medical institutes, thus completely depriving them of access to formal education. This action by the current Afghan government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being unable to receive an education. In addition, women and girls have been barred from attending sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international NGOs, and even at UN offices in Afghanistan.

On the occasion of the "International Day of Girls and Women in Science," the United Nations has stated that the world and science need women and girls. In a statement published on its X account, the organization noted that women and girls are striving to have their achievements recognized. António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has also urged countries to pave the way for girls and women to access the knowledge they deserve. The Secretary-General emphasized that gender equality in education is essential for a better future. He added that the year 2025 will mark the tenth anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, both significant milestones in the global effort to promote gender equality and empower women. He stressed that gender equality in science is crucial for building a better future for all; however, women and girls still face barriers and systemic biases in pursuing scientific careers. António Guterres further stated that closing the gender gap in science requires breaking stereotypes, promoting role models to inspire girls, supporting women's advancement through targeted programs, and fostering inclusive environments through policies and actions that promote diversity and equality. The celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science comes at a time when the current government has banned education for girls above the sixth grade for over three years and has closed universities to female students—an action that has deprived millions of girls of learning opportunities. The United Nations General Assembly designated February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015.

The European Union's political representation in Afghanistan has recently announced its support for women and girls in Afghanistan in their fight for the right to education. The EU political office in Afghanistan made these statements today (Tuesday, February 13) on its X account to commemorate "International Day of Women and Girls in Science." The representation emphasized: "The resilience and achievements of women and girls in education, science, sports, and every field inspire us." The EU political office added that investing in the future of women and girls in Afghanistan is an investment in the future of Afghanistan. In December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring February 11 as the "International Day of Women and Girls in Science." Since 2015, this day has been celebrated by UNESCO to promote the full participation and access of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It is noteworthy that the European Union advocates for the rights of Afghan women and girls to education and employment while approximately 1,238 days have passed since girls above the sixth grade have been deprived of education in Afghanistan. Additionally, women's and girls' education in medical fields has also been banned. This action by the current Afghan government has resulted in millions of schoolgirls being unable to receive an education. Moreover, women and girls have been prohibited from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as even at UN offices in Afghanistan.

The Norwegian Refugee Council has announced that it will suspend its humanitarian activities in Afghanistan and 19 other countries due to the suspension of foreign aid from the United States. In a statement published on its X account, the organization stated that it has been forced to lay off its staff in Afghanistan and other countries. The Norwegian Refugee Council warned that without an immediate solution to meet the financial needs of the organization, it may have to halt its U.S.-funded humanitarian programs by the end of this month. The statement reads: "For the first time in history, we are forced to suspend vital and urgent relief work for hundreds of thousands of people in nearly 20 countries affected by war, natural disasters, and displacements." The Norwegian Refugee Council emphasized that this action will have serious consequences for people in crisis around the world. The organization also mentioned the suspension of some of its aid in Ukraine and the ongoing crisis in Sudan. The statement noted that the organization has laid off hundreds of its staff worldwide, including both male and female employees in Afghanistan. The Norwegian Refugee Council stated: "We currently have millions of dollars in delayed payments owed to the U.S. government. Without an immediate solution, we may have to stop programs funded by the United States by the end of February." The Norwegian Refugee Council also acknowledged the U.S. government's authority to conduct reviews of foreign aid but called for urgent action from the U.S. to prevent disruptions in humanitarian assistance. Recently, the U.S. State Department suspended its foreign aid, stating that the U.S. government needs to focus more on its national interests. The Norwegian Refugee Council welcomed the exemption for suspended U.S. aid for life-saving assistance but added that this exemption does not apply to their council. This organization has called for continued financial support from the United States. This comes as Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, previously visited Afghanistan and warned about the humanitarian crisis in the country.

With the increasing restrictions on women's work in the health sector and the prohibition of their education in medical fields, OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, states that for every 100,000 childbirths, 600 Afghan women lose their lives, a figure that is three times the global average. OCHA has expressed concern over the high maternal mortality rates during childbirth and stated that the current government's restrictions on women's employment in healthcare have limited their access to medical care. The report notes that on December 2, 2024, the current government announced that all educational institutions for women in the medical field, including vocational training and higher education programs, would be closed. This decree poses a serious threat to the future of public health in the country. The agency mentioned that female employees in humanitarian organizations are facing even more restrictions, and with the intensification of these limitations, especially in remote areas, more women will be deprived of prenatal and postnatal care, vaccinations, and other vital services. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that in addition to the ban on women's education in medical fields, female health workers face other challenges; increased restrictions on movement, the requirement of a male guardian for work-related travel, and frequent inspections at checkpoints are significant obstacles for women and girls in providing healthcare and accessing health facilities. Niloufar, a health worker in Afghanistan, is mentioned in the report as someone who sometimes travels to different provinces to provide services to women and girls; however, her journeys are fraught with challenges and restrictions imposed by the current government on women and girls over the past three years. She noted the increasing restrictions imposed by the current government on women, stating: "Being a woman in Afghanistan is a challenge in itself. Being a woman while pursuing a professional career is even more difficult." It is worth mentioning that concerns regarding the rising mortality rates among women and children in Afghanistan have increased in recent months. Afghanistan has had one of the highest maternal mortality rates during childbirth for decades.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative reports that health ministers from countries around the world expressed concern over the rise of childhood polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Serious actions are being taken in response to this issue. An alliance known as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative announced on Friday, February 8, that the WHO Executive Board meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland, where there was an emphasis on strengthening surveillance activities not only in high-risk areas but also in other regions, including borders. Dr. Hanan Balkhi, head of the regional office of the World Health Organization, stated at the meeting: "On behalf of our region and the leaders of both countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan), I assure you that our commitment to eradicating this virus is stronger than ever." He emphasized, "We must reach every child and vaccinate them. We also need to continue searching for the polio virus to prevent its further spread. Achieving this goal is not simple." In part of his remarks, he added that Afghanistan and Pakistan face significant geopolitical, infrastructural, environmental, and security challenges that have led to an increase in childhood polio cases. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative's statement also mentioned that WHO member countries at the Geneva meeting called for a stronger response to eradicate this disease, including maximizing polio vaccination efforts. Health officials from various countries at the meeting stressed the importance of implementing more activities in this regard and highlighted the necessity of establishing strong, resilient, and equitable health systems. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where the polio virus is still circulating and continues to claim the lives of children. In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 cases and Afghanistan reported 25 cases of polio. While Afghanistan has not reported any additional polio cases so far, Pakistani officials reported the first positive polio case in 2025 last week.

The European Union Office for Afghanistan, on the occasion of World Cancer Day, visited a cancer treatment center and stated that special medical training for women is necessary to combat this disease. In a message posted on its X account to mark World Cancer Day, the union emphasized the need for medical education for women in Afghanistan. It continued: "To effectively address health challenges in Afghanistan, we need medical training for women." The European Union Office for Afghanistan mentioned in part of its message that it supports this cancer treatment center in collaboration with the World Health Organization. World Cancer Day is an initiative by the Union for International Cancer Control aimed at bringing together cancer patients, supporting them, and working to reduce the disease globally. Every year, around 20,000 people in Afghanistan are diagnosed with various types of cancer, of which more than 15,000 lose their lives to the disease. The most common types of cancer include breast, stomach, esophagus, lip, mouth, cervical, and lung cancers. Recently, Sharafat Zaman Amir Khail, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, reported an increase in the number of cancer patients in Afghanistan. The ministry stated that at least 6,000 new cases of cancer were registered in the country last year. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health mentioned that approximately 24,000 people sought medical assistance across Afghanistan due to cancer-related illnesses last year. However, the ministry has not provided specific statistics on the mortality rate of this disease in Afghanistan.

Pio Smith, the director of the Asia and Pacific division at the United Nations Population Fund, states that the suspension of U.S. financial aid will deprive millions of Afghans of access to health and reproductive services. Smith has indicated that if this situation continues over the next three years, it will result in the deaths of more than a thousand mothers due to childbirth in Afghanistan. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order to halt foreign aid for 90 days. This decision has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations worldwide that depend on U.S. funding. Although the Trump administration later issued exemptions for food aid and other urgent humanitarian assistance, aid workers say the impact of this action is already being felt by some of the most vulnerable people in the world. The director of the Asia and Pacific division at the United Nations Population Fund emphasized that over 9 million people in Afghanistan and more than 1.2 million Afghan refugees and migrants in Pakistan will lose access to healthcare services due to the closure of health centers. He added that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates due to childbirth in the world, with a mother dying every two hours from preventable pregnancy-related complications. He stated, "When our projects are not funded, women are forced to give birth alone and in unhygienic conditions. Newborns die from preventable causes. These individuals are truly the most vulnerable people in the world." He further noted, "If we only consider Afghanistan, between 2025 and 2028, we estimate that the lack of U.S. support will lead to 1,200 maternal deaths during childbirth and over 100,000 unintended pregnancies." Smith acknowledged that U.S. financial aid has prevented 3,800 deaths during pregnancy worldwide in 2023. He added, "Just in our region, the United Nations Population Fund needs over $308 million this year to continue essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan." Additionally, Riva Skinazi, director of public relations at the International Planned Parenthood Federation, told Reuters that this federation will also be forced to suspend family planning and sexual and reproductive health services in West Africa. She said, "We will see an increase in unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths. The delivery of contraceptive supplies to our members will be hampered. This is a disaster." The International Planned Parenthood Federation, which consists of national organizations advocating for sexual and reproductive health, estimates that in 13 countries, primarily in Africa, it will have to forgo receiving at least $61 million in U.S. financial aid over the next four years.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Afghanistan has announced that women and girls in the country are at increased risk of mortality and various diseases due to lack of access to healthcare. In a message posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, the organization expressed concern over the restricted access of Afghan women and girls to safe and effective healthcare services. It also stated that, in collaboration with the UK, it is providing life-saving services to ensure women can access healthcare without obstacles. Quoting Fauzia, a woman from Nangarhar province, UNFPA reported: “My child is very sick. I have two other children who were also born at home. Without money, we couldn’t go anywhere for medical help.” Malalai Amin, a worker at a health center in the same province, also emphasized that villagers cannot afford the costs of treatment at distant healthcare facilities. Malalai added: “People have high expectations from us because this clinic is in a very remote area. Poverty is widespread here, and people don’t even have 10 Afghanis to pay for transportation to other clinics or to buy medicine.” In its report, UNFPA stressed the need for sustainable investment to guarantee safe and unrestricted access to healthcare for women in Afghanistan. The organization stated: “Together with our partners and donors, we are providing life-saving healthcare services in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health to counter the severe impacts of the humanitarian crisis on women and girls.” It is worth noting that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world. The lack of specialized medical staff, particularly female doctors, insufficient medical equipment, and the shortage of hospitals and healthcare centers in remote provinces are among the key factors contributing to the rising maternal and newborn mortality in the country. Health experts and international organizations have repeatedly warned that without adequate support for the healthcare system, the situation for women and children in Afghanistan will worsen. While many countries are reducing maternal mortality rates, Afghanistan continues to face a deep crisis in this area.