Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said on Saturday that 61 people have been killed and 110 others injured as a result of heavy rain and snowfall over the past three days.

According to the authority, the casualties were reported in Kabul, Parwan, Panjshir, Bamyan, Daikundi, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Herat, Ghor, Badghis, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Balkh, Samangan, and Nuristan provinces.

The agency also said that 458 houses were damaged or destroyed, leaving 360 families affected. In addition, 620 livestock perished due to the severe weather.

On the International Day of Education, UNESCO and UNICEF issued a joint statement urging urgent action to protect and restore the right to education for all children in Afghanistan, highlighting a worsening crisis in learning and access, especially for girls and young women.

In their press release, the two UN agencies described education as a fundamental human right and the foundation of peace, dignity, and opportunity for every child and young person. However, they noted that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where secondary and higher education for girls and women is strictly banned, leaving at least 2.2 million adolescent girls deprived of schooling.

UNESCO and UNICEF also pointed out that around 93 percent of children finishing primary school still struggle with basic reading skills, underscoring the need for greater investment in early learning and teacher training.

“When girls are denied access to education, an entire nation pays the price,” said Soohyun Kim, Officer in Charge, UNESCO Afghanistan. “Strengthening foundational learning and supporting women teachers are critical investments in Afghanistan’s recovery and resilience.”

“Afghanistan urgently needs female teachers, nurses, community health workers, and doctors,” said Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “In a context where women can only be treated by women, who will care for sick girls and women in the future if they are denied education today?”

At the same time, the European Union delegation in Afghanistan reiterated that quality, accessible education is a fundamental right.

Uzbekistan has explained its decision to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace, saying the move is closely tied to national and regional security priorities — including concerns linked to developments in Afghanistan and the wider Middle East.

Abdulaziz Kamilov, Presidential Adviser on Foreign Policy, told the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel that Uzbekistan supported the initiative because it believes the Board’s goals align with the country’s foreign policy principles and vital security interests.

Kamilov said one of the key motivations for joining the Board was security — especially the risk that instability and extremist groups from conflict zones in the Middle East could spread into neighboring regions, including Afghanistan and Central Asia. He noted that the presence of extremist organizations grew in Afghanistan after wars in the Middle East, highlighting shared regional threats.

He also mentioned cases where some Uzbek citizens had joined extremist groups abroad and later returned home, creating security challenges. The government’s response — facilitating their reintegration into society and preventing further destabilization — has been praised by the United Nations, he added.

The Board of Peace was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and formally established at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed its charter on January 22.

Originally designed to help resolve the crisis in Gaza, the Board’s scope has expanded to include wider peace and stability efforts. Uzbekistan sees participation as part of a coordinated international approach to conflict resolution and stability promotion involving the United States, Arab and Muslim countries, and Central Asian states.

Kamilov emphasized that Uzbekistan’s involvement also carries symbolic and diplomatic importance, reflecting international trust in Tashkent as a constructive partner on global security issues. He said that stepping into such initiatives demonstrates Uzbekistan’s commitment to peace and regional cooperation.