Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting the sharpest surge in child malnutrition in the country’s history. According to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), nearly 3.5 million children under the age of five are now suffering from acute malnutrition — with at least 1 million at risk of dying without urgent treatment.
This alarming development underscores the compounded impact of political instability, economic collapse, food insecurity, and a crippled healthcare system. As global attention shifts elsewhere, Afghanistan’s youngest and most vulnerable are suffering in silence.
Understanding the Crisis
The Numbers Behind the Emergency
The report reveals that:
3.5 million children under five are acutely malnourished.
875,000 children are classified as severely acutely malnourished, the deadliest form of malnutrition.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected due to worsening gender-based restrictions and limited access to healthcare.
The number of cases has increased by 35% compared to the same period last year — the highest year-on-year increase since records began.
Why This Is Happening
Multiple factors are converging to create a perfect storm:
Economic Collapse: After the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, billions in foreign aid were frozen, and international banks cut ties. The Afghan economy shrank dramatically, wiping out livelihoods and pushing families into poverty.
Drought and Climate Shocks: Afghanistan is facing its third consecutive year of drought. Crops have failed, livestock have died, and rural communities are struggling to survive.
Food Insecurity: The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports that over 15 million people in Afghanistan face high levels of acute food insecurity.
Healthcare Breakdown: Hospitals lack medicines, fuel, and trained personnel. Widespread poverty means most families can’t afford treatment or even transportation to clinics.
Political Restrictions: The Taliban’s increasing restrictions on women — including bans on female NGO workers — have hindered humanitarian operations, especially in reaching children and mothers in conservative communities.
Stories From the Ground
“My Baby Hasn’t Eaten In Days”
In the malnutrition ward of a hospital in Kandahar, Zahra, a 24-year-old mother, cradles her skeletal 10-month-old daughter. “She hasn’t eaten properly in days. There’s no food at home, and we can’t afford medicine,” she says, weeping.
Doctors say that without therapeutic feeding, the baby may not survive. However, supplies are running low.
Clinics Overwhelmed
Clinics supported by UNICEF and WFP are seeing twice as many cases as last year. Healthcare workers are overstretched, underpaid, and struggling to cope.
“We used to see 10 cases a day. Now, we see 30 or more,” says Dr. Fawad, a physician in Herat. “Sometimes, we have to turn families away. It breaks our hearts.”
UN’s Emergency Response
What the UN Is Doing
UNICEF, WFP, WHO, and other UN agencies are leading the response. Their efforts include:
Supplying therapeutic food (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food or RUTF) to children with severe malnutrition.
Setting up mobile health and nutrition teams to reach remote areas.
Running malnutrition screening programs in refugee camps and informal settlements.
Providing cash assistance to families to buy food and access healthcare.
Supporting maternal and infant care programs to prevent malnutrition from birth.
Funding Crisis
Despite these efforts, funding is a major barrier. UNICEF and WFP have received less than 40% of the funds they requested for 2025. The agencies are warning that hundreds of thousands of children could die if additional support is not mobilized immediately.
Impact on Afghan Society
A Generation at Risk
Malnutrition in early childhood leads to:
Stunting: Irreversible physical and mental development issues.
Lower school performance: Many malnourished children drop out of school early or never attend.
Greater susceptibility to disease: Malnourished children are far more likely to die from common illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia.
Afghanistan is at risk of losing an entire generation to malnutrition, poverty, and trauma.
Women and Girls: Double Burden
Due to Taliban-imposed restrictions, Afghan women are unable to work, limiting family income. Women are also banned from visiting male doctors, making it harder to access prenatal and postnatal care. This puts both mothers and babies at greater risk.
A 2024 report by Save the Children noted that girls under five are more likely to be malnourished than boys in several provinces, due to cultural feeding hierarchies where male children eat first.
International Community’s Role
Silence and Inaction?
While some governments have pledged aid, actual disbursements have been slow. Many are reluctant to fund operations in Afghanistan due to concerns over Taliban interference, human rights violations, and lack of financial transparency.
But UN officials argue that humanitarian aid should never be politicized.
“Children should not pay the price for geopolitics,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. “We urge the international community to act now, not later.”
Examples of Action
Some countries and organizations are stepping up:
Germany recently pledged €25 million in emergency aid.
The EU continues to support UN-led humanitarian operations with over €100 million annually.
The UAE and Qatar have delivered airlifts of food and medical supplies.
But the funding gap remains vast, and logistical access remains a persistent problem.
Challenges Ahead
Taliban’s Ban on Women Aid Workers
In December 2024, the Taliban banned Afghan women from working with NGOs. This has severely affected nutrition programs because female staff are essential to reaching women and children in conservative areas.
Several NGOs, including CARE and IRC, temporarily suspended operations in protest. Though some negotiations have led to partial exemptions, the situation remains fragile.
Winter Looming
With Afghanistan’s harsh winter months approaching, aid agencies fear the situation will worsen. Snow and freezing temperatures could isolate mountain communities, cutting them off from aid deliveries.
Millions could be trapped without food, medicine, or heating.
Possible Solutions
Immediate Needs
Funding: Donor countries must fully fund UN appeals.
Access: Humanitarian corridors and airlifts must be supported, especially to remote provinces.
Diplomatic Pressure: International players must push the Taliban to lift bans on female aid workers.
Long-Term Strategy
Invest in agriculture and climate resilience to reduce dependence on aid.
Strengthen local healthcare systems, particularly maternal and child health.
Expand cash transfer programs to help families survive economic shocks.
Conclusion
Afghanistan is facing a child malnutrition crisis of historic proportions. Millions of children are at risk of dying or being permanently stunted due to hunger, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare. The recent UN report is a wake-up call not just for regional powers but for the entire world.
Ignoring this crisis could lead to one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the 21st century. But there is still time. With urgent global action, proper funding, and respect for humanitarian principles, we can save Afghan children and protect an entire generation from needless suffering.
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FAQs
- What is causing the surge in child malnutrition in Afghanistan?
The surge is driven by a combination of factors: economic collapse, prolonged drought, food insecurity, broken healthcare systems, and political restrictions, particularly on female aid workers.
- How many children are affected by this crisis?
According to the UN, around 3.5 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, with nearly 1 million at risk of dying without urgent intervention.
- What is the UN doing to help?
UN agencies like UNICEF and WFP are distributing therapeutic food, running mobile health clinics, and providing cash assistance to vulnerable families. However, they are facing a severe funding shortfall.
- How has the Taliban impacted humanitarian aid delivery?
The Taliban’s restrictions on women aid workers and interference in humanitarian operations have severely hampered the ability of NGOs to reach women and children, especially in rural and conservative areas.
- What can the international community do to help?
The global community must fund the UN’s emergency appeals, pressure the Taliban to allow female aid workers, and support sustainable solutions such as improving agriculture, healthcare, and economic opportunities in Afghanistan.