KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations has warned that 3.5 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of acute malnutrition in 2025, as the country’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed that 3 million children have already experienced acute malnutrition over the past three years, with the figure set to rise to 3.5 million this year.
OCHA stressed that continued donor support is crucial to ensure that vulnerable infants and mothers in Afghanistan receive essential nutrition. The UN agency called for immediate action to address the growing crisis.
Malnutrition has long been a critical public health issue in Afghanistan, compounded by ongoing droughts, natural disasters, displacement, food insecurity, and high unemployment. The situation has been further exacerbated by the Taliban’s return to power, which has contributed to economic collapse and a significant decline in international aid.
Health sources in eastern Nangarhar province reported last year that at least 700 children had died from malnutrition and seasonal diseases in the region over a six-month period.
The broader humanitarian outlook remains grim. The UN projects that nearly 23 million people, more than half of Afghanistan’s population, will need humanitarian assistance in 2025. Of these, 14.8 million are expected to face acute food insecurity, and 7.8 million women and children will require urgent nutrition support.
In response, the UN has launched a $2.42 billion appeal for Afghanistan for 2025, with the aim of providing aid to 16.8 million people identified as most in need.
