The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that nearly 8 million children in Afghanistan were screened for acute malnutrition through mobile and fixed health facilities from January to June 2023.
In its Mid-Year Humanitarian Situation Report, published on Wednesday, UNICEF disclosed that around 350,000 children (56% girls) were admitted for treatment of severe wasting. This represents a 31% increase in the number of children treated for severe wasting compared to the same period last year.
Throughout the first half of 2023, UNICEF reached over 20 million people (50% children) with essential health and nutrition services. The organization also supported more than 633,000 children including 60% girls, with access to education through 19,654 community-based education (CBE) classes in 31 provinces.
According to the UNICEF report, the number of people in need increased from 28.3 million in January to 29.2 million in May. The rise was mainly due to a greater demand for specialized protection services.
UNICEF estimates that the economic crisis in Afghanistan will persist in 2023, leaving 64% of households struggling to meet their basic needs. The organization is calling for $1.45 billion to help meet the humanitarian needs of 19 million people in Afghanistan.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has worsened since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with over two-thirds of the population, according to UNICEF, approximately 29.2 million people, now requiring urgent humanitarian aid in the country.
