KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Kingdom has provided £8 million to support UN efforts to prevent and treat malnutrition among vulnerable children and mothers in Afghanistan, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said on Wednesday.
In a statement, UNICEF said the funding will be distributed to UNICEF, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Food Programme (WFP) to support the First Foods Initiative Afghanistan, a multisectoral program aimed at reducing child food poverty and malnutrition.
The initiative focuses on improving access to safe and nutritious complementary foods for children aged six to 23 months, while supporting pregnant and breastfeeding women through coordinated actions in food systems, health, water and sanitation, social protection, and skills development.
It is expected to directly reach more than 150,000 children under two years old and benefit over 640,000 caregivers and community members.
“Nearly 80 per cent of children affected by malnutrition in Afghanistan are under the age of two — a critical stage for growth and development,” said Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan.
Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has surged since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, driven by economic collapse, climate shocks, displacement, and funding shortfalls that continue to restrict access to food, healthcare, and basic services.
WFP estimated 3.5 million children were malnourished in 2025, up from three million in 2024. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projects nearly 3.7 million children under five will suffer acute malnutrition in 2026, including 942,000 with severe acute malnutrition and around 700,000 at high risk of moderate malnutrition. In addition, around 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are expected to face acute malnutrition during the same period.
The UN estimates that about 22 million people – nearly half of Afghanistan’s population, predominantly women and children – will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The UN has appealed for $1.7 billion to provide immediate lifesaving aid to more than 17 million prioritized people.
