India, April 28 -- Restrictions on girls' education and women's employment in Afghanistan could leave the country with a deficit of over 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday.

The agency said the crisis is already depriving children of learning and healthcare, while also weakening Afghanistan's economy and the essential services that depend on trained women professionals.

A new UNICEF analysis, The Cost of Inaction on Girls' Education and Women's Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan, found that female representation in the civil service fell from 21 per cent to 17.7 per cent between 2023 and 2025.

More than one million girls have been denied their right to learn since ...