Child malnutrition reaches critical levels in Afghanistan

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, August 5, 2026

The United Nations World Food Program reported that child malnutrition has reached critical levels in one-third of Afghanistan’s provinces, with over 13,000 children losing access to nutrition treatment due to health center closures and funding cuts. Without increased humanitarian aid, the crisis is expected to worsen, leaving millions of children and vulnerable women at risk amid ongoing conflict and economic instability.

Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached critical levels in one-third of the country’s provinces, with conditions expected to deteriorate further due to ongoing funding shortfalls, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reported Tuesday. The agency highlighted that the scale of the crisis is compounded by reductions in humanitarian aid, which have led to the closure of 142 health centers in 2025 and resulted in more than 13,000 children losing access to vital nutrition treatment.

According to the WFP, approximately 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to experience acute malnutrition during the current year. In addition, about 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are at heightened risk due to inadequate access to sufficient nutrition. The agency identified 12 provinces as having reached record levels of acute child malnutrition, marking an unprecedented humanitarian challenge.

The worsening situation is attributed to a complex mix of factors including ongoing conflict, high unemployment rates, soaring food prices, outbreaks of disease, and poor water and sanitation conditions. Reduced humanitarian funding has further strained efforts to provide essential nutritional support. Although the report did not specify particular donors, critics have pointed to significant foreign aid reductions in recent years, including those initiated under previous U.S. administration policies.

The WFP also noted that disruptions in supply chains, partly linked to conflict in the Middle East, have delayed deliveries of critical nutrition products. As a result, nearly one million malnourished women and children have been left without essential nutrition services for up to five months, exacerbating their vulnerability and heightening the risk of severe health outcomes.

Aid organizations warn that, without renewed and sustained funding, the malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan will continue to escalate, with long-term consequences for the health and development of millions of children. Authorities and international partners face immense challenges in reversing these trends amid the country’s ongoing political and economic instability.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.