Afghanistan: Malnutrition Puts One Million Children at Risk of Death, Warns UNICEF

Afghanistan faces a critical humanitarian crisis as UNICEF reports that one million children are in imminent danger of death from severe acute malnutrition. The United Nations agency stated that a staggering 3.7 million children in the country are suffering from wasting, a severe form of malnutrition. Among these, one million children are experiencing the most critical stage, severe acute malnutrition, placing their lives at extreme risk.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF's representative in Afghanistan, conveyed the gravity of the situation from Kabul, emphasizing that without prompt treatment and intervention, these children face a high mortality rate. The crisis is exacerbated by a combination of factors, including devastating earthquakes last year, numerous climate-related disasters this year, and the return of millions of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan since 2023. Consequently, nearly 14 million Afghans are experiencing acute hunger, a significant portion of the country's population exceeding 45 million.

Children under the age of two are disproportionately affected, constituting over 80% of the severe acute malnutrition cases recorded nationwide. Oyewale noted that cases of severe acute malnutrition accompanied by medical complications have increased by more than a third this year. Furthermore, mothers suffering from severe malnutrition are giving birth to low-birth-weight infants who have a low survival rate due to a lack of intensive care in neonatal units.

UNICEF's nutrition program in Afghanistan requires approximately $180 million this year but has only secured 22% of the necessary funding. The conflict with Pakistan has also severely disrupted logistical routes for humanitarian aid, although recent UN efforts have seen over 700 trucks carrying essential food and humanitarian supplies arrive in Afghanistan via Pakistan.