The US State Department is set to appoint two veteran officials to lead the Biden administration’s efforts to improve the conditions for Afghan women and girls, NBC News reported. 

NBC News said the appointment of the two officials will be announced on Wednesday by the State Department.

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to appoint Rina Amiri as special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights,” NBC News reported. “Blinken will also appoint Stephenie Foster, another State Department veteran, as senior adviser for women and girls issues as part of the agency's team for Afghan relocation efforts.”

Amiri served as a US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Obama administration. She also served as a member of the UN Secretary General’s political team in Afghanistan during the course of the implementation of the Bonn Agreement. Foster has worked for the US State Department. 

Afghanistan currently faces severe economic and humanitarian challenges. According to the UN, Afghan women and girls are paying an especially high price for the ongoing poverty and hunger in the country.

“As more and more Afghans struggle to meet their basic needs, people in vulnerable situations — notably women-headed households with children — are being pushed to take desperate measures, including child labor, the marriage of children to ensure their survival, and — according to some reports — even the sale of children,” said Nada Al-Nashif, the UN deputy high commissioner for human rights, while briefing the UN this month in Geneva.

Following the political change on August 15, secondary girls’ schools have remained closed in most of the country's provinces, including Kabul.

On Tuesday, dozens of women took to the street in Kabul over what they termed "new restrictions" imposed on them by the Islamic Emirate.

“We gathered to raise our voices against restrictions imposed on women; our schools are closed, they took away working opportunities, now they ordered us not to leave our homes alone. They are talking about the rights described by Islam--does Islam order that a nation should be hungry, does Islam say to forbid girls from receiving an education?" said Shayesta, a protestor.

The Islamic Emirate, however, has repeatedly said women have rights based on Islamic regulations.