In 15 days, it will be a year since the Islamist Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.


UNICEF = United Nations Children's Fund points out that the economic loss due to the restriction of girls' education for one year is 500 million dollars, or more than 66 billion yen in Japanese yen.

The Taliban's interim government, which is promoting a rule based on Islamic law as it interprets it, still does not allow classes to resume for female students attending Japanese junior high and high schools.



Against this backdrop, UNICEF released a new report on the 15th, saying that the economic loss due to restrictions on girls' education over the past year was equivalent to 2.5% of Afghanistan's 2020 GDP = Gross Domestic Product. 500 million dollars, or more than 66 billion yen in Japanese yen.



On top of that, if all girls were able to complete secondary education and participate in the labor market, the contribution to the Afghan economy would be at least 5.4 billion dollars, or approximately 720 billion yen in Japanese yen, in terms of their lifetime.



The report also cites negative non-economic impacts, such as the lack of access to nutritional support and hygiene information previously provided by UNICEF in schools, due to girls not being able to attend school.



A UNICEF official said, ``Education is not only a right for all children, but also a foundation for Afghanistan's future growth.''

Ambassador of Afghanistan to Japan “Help the international community”

One year after the Taliban seized power, Afghan Ambassador to Japan Abdali said in an interview with NHK, "With the collapse of the previous government, the efforts that have been continued for 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States have failed. Shattered. Afghanistan has changed a lot."



"Poverty levels have increased since last year. People are also facing hunger. Engagement of the international community is essential to address the situation of the Afghan people," he said. appealed to the international community for assistance.



He also warned that Afghanistan should not become a hotbed of terrorism again, noting that "the potential threat of violence will increase if the international community ceases to engage in Afghanistan."



Ambassador Abdali was appointed ambassador to Japan last year after successively holding important posts under the previous administration, and has continued as ambassador since August last year when the Taliban seized power.



Currently, the Afghan Embassy in Tokyo does not receive any financial support from the Taliban's interim government, and in addition to the ambassador, one diplomat and several other staff members are working to support the lives of Afghans living in Japan. It means that we are doing business, but severe management continues.