Afghanistan child malnutrition hits critical levels in 12 provinces

Rome,UPDATED: Aug 4, 2026 22:56 IST

Child malnutrition has reached critical levels in a third of Afghanistan’s provinces and the situation is expected to worsen as funding shortages force cuts in food aid and other support, the UN World Food Programme said on Tuesday.

The agency said nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, along with 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women. It warned that the crisis is deepening at a time when the annual peak season for malnutrition runs from July to October.

In a statement, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan, John Aylieff, said, “We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths, which this crisis is provoking,” adding that “it is already too late for too many”.

WFP said 12 Afghan provinces have reached critical levels of acute child malnutrition, the highest number recorded so far. It attributed the worsening situation to a mix of conflict, unemployment, rising food prices, disease outbreaks, poor water and sanitation, and reduced humanitarian funding.

The agency said 142 health centres were closed in 2025 because of aid reductions, and more than 13,000 children lost access to nutrition treatment. It did not name any specific donor behind the funding cuts.

WFP also said supply shortages linked to conflict in the Middle East and the nine-month closure of Pakistan’s border because of fighting between the neighbours have disrupted deliveries of nutrition products. As a result, nearly one million malnourished women and children have been left without essential nutrition services for five months.

From August to October, food distributions meant to prevent famine in the worst-hit areas are being suspended because of a lack of funds, WFP said. The agency said it urgently needs USD 540 million over the next six months to respond to the crisis.

Overall, WFP said Afghanistan is facing a worsening malnutrition emergency, with millions of children and women at risk as health services shut down, supplies are disrupted and food support is cut during the most critical months of the year.

With PTI Inputs

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