KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — An estimated 857,000 children under the age of five in Afghanistan are expected to require treatment for severe acute malnutrition, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Sunday.
In a post on X, UNICEF said it screened 1.2 million children for wasting in November, a key indicator of acute malnutrition. Of those screened, 33,510 children were admitted for treatment, with girls accounting for 58 percent of the cases.
“But the need remains huge—857,000 children under five are expected to require treatment for severe acute malnutrition,” the UN agency said.
Malnutrition has long been a serious problem in Afghanistan, but the situation has worsened dramatically since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. According to the World Food Programme, nearly five million children, infants, and breastfeeding mothers across the country are currently affected by malnutrition.
Aid agencies point to rising poverty, widespread unemployment, and limited access to healthcare as key drivers of the growing malnutrition crisis. Repeated natural disasters, including earthquakes and floods, have further strained already fragile livelihoods. At the same time, mass returns of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries have increased pressure on communities and basic services.
Afghanistan is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with economic collapse, ongoing climate-related shocks, displacement, and funding shortfall, leaving millions without reliable access to food, healthcare, and other basic necessities. Children are among the most vulnerable groups affected.
The UN estimates that nearly half of Afghanistan’s population, about 22 million people, mostly women and children, will need humanitarian assistance in 2026. The UN has requested $1.7 billion to support more than 17 million people prioritized for immediate and lifesaving aid.
