Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has climbed to its highest level in years, according to recent assessments by U.N. agencies, as shrinking international aid undermines the country’s ability to treat severely malnourished children. Millions are at risk of hunger while overstretched health facilities struggle to meet growing demand.
According to IRAF, assessments by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) show a sharp rise in cases of acute child malnutrition across Afghanistan in recent months, with conditions in many provinces reaching emergency levels.
The agencies say children from low-income households have been hit hardest as families cope with declining incomes by reducing the quantity and frequency of meals. Children under the age of two are considered among the most vulnerable.
The deterioration comes as reductions in humanitarian funding have forced the closure of dozens of health facilities over the past year, leaving thousands of children without access to life-saving treatment. Aid organizations warn that continued funding shortfalls could further disrupt nutrition services for children and mothers, increasing the risk of preventable deaths in the coming months.
Humanitarian agencies say the crisis extends beyond food shortages alone. Widespread poverty, limited dietary diversity, outbreaks of infectious diseases, inadequate access to safe drinking water, declining vaccination coverage, and climate-related shocks have all contributed to worsening nutritional conditions.
During the first three months of the current year, more than 100,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition sought treatment at health facilities, but available services have been able to meet only a fraction of the actual need. Provinces including Helmand, Kandahar, and Ghor are among the areas facing the most severe conditions, with many children requiring urgent medical care.
UNICEF and the WFP have warned that without a rapid restoration of international funding and increased investment in nutrition and prevention programs, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is likely to worsen in the months ahead. Experts say child malnutrition in the country is largely preventable, but the window to avert a deeper humanitarian emergency is rapidly closing.
