UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, clarified today, Sunday, that more than 2.2 million Afghan girls have been excluded from secondary education with the start of the new school year in Afghanistan, warning of the catastrophic consequences of this ban.

In the same context, Russell confirmed that this decision increases the risk of child marriage and negatively impacts the health system and economy, with an estimated 1,600 mothers and more than 3,500 infants expected to die due to the lack of doctors and midwives.