Published on: 2026-07-14
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 13, 2026 Humanitarian Aid
The child nutrition crisis is rapidly escalating in Afghanistan: about 3.7 million children under five years old are at high risk of malnutrition. This warning was issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
UNICEF has conducted a study of this scale for the first time, simultaneously assessing the level of child malnutrition and the daily experiences of families facing food shortages. The study covered all provinces of the country and enabled the identification of early signs of an impending crisis: children are eating less diverse foods, skipping meals, or simply going hungry.
The report titled “Too little, too late: the crisis of early childhood nutrition in Afghanistan” states that many households are already forced to reduce the number of meals, give up more nutritious foods, and decrease portion sizes for children.
UNICEF is especially concerned that the deterioration is occurring even before the start of the season traditionally considered the most dangerous for children’s health in Afghanistan. Compared to 2025, rates of malnutrition among children have worsened in 26 out of 34 Afghan provinces. Usually, the peak of such cases occurs between July and September, but this time the crisis began developing much earlier.
The most vulnerable group remains children under two years old – they account for 83 percent of severe acute malnutrition cases and 77 percent of moderate acute malnutrition cases in the country.
“Young children in Afghanistan are being pushed closer to malnutrition even before the most dangerous season begins,” said UNICEF representative in Afghanistan Tajuddin Oyewale. According to him, the new data allows for early response, without waiting until a child reaches a critical condition.
Experts emphasize that wasting is one of the most dangerous forms of malnutrition. It refers to a condition in which a child’s weight is too low relative to their height. The cause can be a lack of nutrition, illness, or a combination of both factors. Without timely treatment, this condition can quickly become life-threatening.
UNICEF research shows that children from families experiencing the most severe food shortages face the risk of wasting six times more often during seasonal crises than their peers from better-off households.
The problem is not limited to just a lack of food. According to humanitarian organizations, the rise in malnutrition cases is also linked to disease outbreaks, low vaccination rates, insufficient access to clean water and sanitation services, as well as funding shortages and disruptions in humanitarian aid deliveries. All these factors mutually reinforce each other, making children particularly vulnerable.
Against this backdrop, UNICEF is calling on the international community to urgently increase funding for programs supporting children and pregnant women. The fund, in particular, intends to expand the initiative aimed at ensuring adequate nutrition for children aged six to 23 months, as well as to strengthen preventive measures to prevent the development of severe forms of malnutrition.
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