UNICEF Chief: Taliban Committed to Let Girls Back to School
He said on February 25 that the Taliban leaders in Afghanistan showed “commitment” to allow women to go to school throughout the country next month.
The international community has demanded the Taliban to continue to educate women.
Russell was appointed earlier in February. He said he still had to be seen if the Taliban commitment to reopen the school for girls and women on March 21 will change conditions or limits.
Russell told The Associated Press that Taliban officials had provided signs of UNICEF that they would open school for girls and women. He said that “we hope it will happen, and we believe it must happen.”
Although there was no legal ban, a 15-year-old girl had been effectively prohibited from going to school in most countries because the Taliban took control six months ago. The Taliban government has blamed delays in the lack of good space, especially in cities, to support schools that must have separate areas for girls.
Schools around 10 provinces continued without stopping since the Taliban took over. Universities and private schools in the capital, Kabul, remain open. Universities for women also restart in several provinces. The Taliban government has promised all universities to be reopened for women in the coming weeks.
Apart from a statement that said that the school will open back for all girls, others have been published about restrictions or changes in other education.
Russell said he met Taliban officials this week to discuss concerns from children’s health on the right to education.
The United Nations and international organizations face the increasing difficulties with the Afghan humanitarian crisis. U.n projects. This year that more than one million children will need treatment for malnutrition and that 97 percent of Afghans can live below the poverty line. UNICEF requests of $ 2 billion from donors for assistance are only funded by 17 percent.
Indira Gandhi Hospital Kabul for children is filled with mothers from all countries who are looking for care for nutritional babies.
Zermina Mohammed said he did not have $ 10 needed to pay for treatment. He asked family members in Kabul for money. But when he held his sick baby, he said he still needed more.
Because more and more people become poor, billions of dollars in foreign money Afghanistan is blocked to the Taliban government which is still not recognized. The government still cannot pay public workers, including people in health and education. Donors and non-governmental organizations have taken costs.
Russell said the money from the European Union paid the teacher. He said that this system was not a long-term solution at all.
