KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than one million children in Afghanistan were screened for malnutrition in September.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on November 18, UNICEF said that screening is the first step in identifying children at risk of malnutrition. The organization emphasized that early detection through screening allows for prompt intervention in cases of malnutrition.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), approximately four million children, infants, and breastfeeding mothers in Afghanistan are currently affected by malnutrition. Last month, UNICEF reported that 343,000 children had been hospitalized for the treatment of severe malnutrition.
Rising poverty and limited access to healthcare services are identified as key factors driving the increasing malnutrition rates. In eastern Nangarhar province alone, health sources report that at least 700 children have died from malnutrition and seasonal diseases over the past six months.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and the collapse of the previous government, the country’s humanitarian situation has worsened, making it one of the world’s most severe crises. The economy’s collapse has left millions without access to basic necessities, with children among the most vulnerable.
The UN estimates that over half of Afghanistan’s population—nearly 24 million people, including more than 12 million children—are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance this year.
