UN: Lives of 1.4 Million Afghan Children at Risk Due to Malnutrition

Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi / AP

The United Nations says Afghanistan is facing one of the most severe malnutrition crises among children and women. According to the organization, more than 3.5 million children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition, and the lives of 1.4 million of them are at serious risk.

These figures were released on Sunday (June 25) in a joint statement by UN humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These agencies have called for immediate, coordinated, and multisectoral action to address the nutrition crisis in Afghanistan.

The statement notes that four out of every ten Afghan women are malnourished, a problem that often goes unnoticed. Additionally, nine out of ten young children live in food poverty and lack access to the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.

According to the UN agencies, widespread food insecurity resulting from the economic crisis and climate change impacts such as drought has left about 9.8 million people in a state of severe malnutrition. Experts have warned that without urgent and sustained support, millions of families, especially with winter approaching will face extreme hunger and the threat of acute malnutrition.

The statement emphasizes that malnutrition is not just a health issue but a cycle that affects generations. When women are deprived of adequate nutrition, their children also face serious risks to their growth, health, and survival.

The United Nations has called for strengthening health, agriculture, education, water and sanitation systems, and social protection services to prevent and mitigate malnutrition and ensure that all children and women, especially in vulnerable areas, have access to nutritious food and support services.

This statement comes at a time when global aid to Afghanistan has decreased, and the United States has also suspended its assistance to the country.