The United Nations children's agency has urged Taliban rulers of Afghanistan to lift the ban on girls' education, a decision that has hit the future of millions of children in the country.

The Taliban banned girls' education months after coming to power in the war-torn country on August 15, 2021.

The United Nations Children's Fund made the appeal at a time when a new education session began in Afghanistan without girls beyond sixth grade.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement: "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," Russell said.

Russell said the consequence of the ban on Afghanistan is 'catastrophic'.

Only Nation That Bans Women's Education

Afghanistan is currently the only nation in the world that bans girls from secondary and higher education.

Taliban has stated their interpretation of Sharia or Islamic law to justify the ban.

“The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation. With fewer girls receiving an education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage with negative repercussions on their well-being and health," Russell said.

The UNICEF Executive Director said the ban will also leave Afghanistan without qualified female health workers.

"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," she said.

Allow Girls To Return To School Now

She said girls should be immediately allowed to return to school in a nation that has witnessed wars for years.

"For over three years, the rights of girls in Afghanistan have been violated. All girls must be allowed to return to school now. If these capable, bright young girls continue to be denied an education, then the repercussions will last for generations. Afghanistan cannot leave half of its population behind," she said.

“At UNICEF, we remain unwavering in our commitment to Afghan children – girls and boys. Despite the ban, we have provided access to education for 445,000 children through community-based learning—64 per cent of whom are girls. We are also empowering female teachers to ensure that girls have positive role models," she said.