The United Nations says Afghanistan's Taliban Islamist group has banned Afghan women in the country from working for the UN.

The UN announced that Taliban authorities issued the order to UN support groups in Afghanistan.

It also said that multiple female staff members have been harassed or detained by the Taliban.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the ban in a statement on Wednesday. He said, "This is a violation of the inalienable fundamental human rights of woman."

The UN has told all its male and female staff members in Afghanistan to not report to their offices.

Last December, the Taliban banned some female employees of non-governmental organizations from working in the country. The Islamist group claimed that the women had failed to wear their hijab scarves properly.

The ban forced many NGOs to suspend their support activities.

The UN notes that about two-thirds of Afghanistan's population, or 28.3 million people, need humanitarian assistance to maintain their lives, as the country is dealing with acute shortages of food and other supplies.

There is growing concern that the ban could further paralyze support activities in Afghanistan.