Published on: 2026-08-25
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 25, 2026 Humanitarian aid
In Afghanistan, 3.7 million children suffer from malnutrition, including about one million from its severe, life-threatening form. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and funding cuts are forcing aid centers to close amid rapidly growing needs.
The crisis particularly affects young children: almost 40 percent of children hospitalized with severe wasting and associated complications are infants under six months of age. At the same time, children under two years old account for 83 percent of all cases of severe acute malnutrition.
“Hospitals are already experiencing immense pressure. The number of children admitted with acute malnutrition and related complications has increased by one-third compared to last year—from six thousand in July 2025 to eight thousand in July 2026,” said UNICEF representative in Afghanistan Tajudin Oyewale.
Bread with tea instead of a full meal
In a new report, UNICEF has for the first time compared data on child wasting and family diets across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan on such a scale.
According to the data presented, half of the children in the country live in conditions of severe food shortage: they receive products from no more than two food groups daily. When a child reaches six months and, along with breast milk, needs to be given nutritious complementary food, many families can only offer bread with tea or yogurt diluted with water.
“For a growing child, this is simply not enough,” emphasized the UNICEF representative.
Furthermore, according to the report, children from families experiencing severe food shortages may be six times more likely to suffer from wasting during periods of seasonal crisis escalation. A child becomes dangerously thin due to lack of nutritious food, illness, or a combination of both factors. Without timely assistance, this condition can lead to death.
Climate shocks and mass return
This year, the situation is exacerbated by droughts, followed by heavy rains and sudden floods. Forecasts indicate that a particularly strong El Niño event could intensify the climate disruptions.
Regional instability also disrupts cross-border trade and deprives families of sources of income. “Since 2023, six million people have returned to Afghanistan, more than half of them children. This creates additional pressure on the labor market, family resources, as well as on healthcare and nutrition services, which are already operating at full capacity,” Oyewale said.
However, even successful treatment does not guarantee full recovery. Returning to a home without adequate food, clean water, and access to basic medical care, the child may again face malnutrition.
“Treatment saves lives, but treatment alone is not enough,” said a UNICEF representative.
According to him, assistance should begin even before the child is hospitalized. It is necessary to ensure adequate nutrition for women during pregnancy, support breastfeeding, and help families introduce diverse complementary foods after the child reaches six months of age. Medical care, vaccination, clean water, sanitation, and social protection should also be comprehensively provided to the most vulnerable families.
Aid reduction amid rising needs
Despite the worsening situation, more than a hundred treatment centers for children with severe malnutrition ceased operations this year due to lack of funds. Hundreds of other centers that provided assistance to children, pregnant, and breastfeeding women have also lost their funding.
The funding shortfall for nutrition programs in Afghanistan stands at 57 percent. At the same time, UNICEF requires around 180 million dollars to operate in the country this year, but so far only 22 percent of this amount has been received.
“We are seeing this crisis approaching – by what children are eating, the growing number of malnourished little ones, and the overcrowded hospital wards,” Oyewale said. “We should not wait until a child becomes dangerously thin and ends up in a hospital bed. We know which children are at the highest risk, and we know how to prevent further deterioration. But action must be taken now.”
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