Around 3.7 million children in Afghanistan are suffering from wasting, one of the most dangerous forms of malnutrition, with approximately one million facing the most severe and potentially fatal form of the condition.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the crisis is placing growing pressure on Afghanistan’s already overstretched health system. Children under two account for 83% of severe acute malnutrition cases, making infants and young children particularly vulnerable.
Hospitals in parts of southern Afghanistan are struggling to cope with demand, with some facilities treating three or four severely malnourished children for every available bed. The number of children admitted with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications increased by one-third year-on-year, rising from around 6,000 in July 2025 to 8,000 by July 2026.
The worsening crisis is being driven by several overlapping factors. Afghanistan has faced years of drought followed by destructive rainfall and flash floods. The current El Niño climate pattern is also expected to intensify extreme weather conditions.
At the same time, regional instability is disrupting cross-border trade, while the return of more than six million people since 2023 has placed additional pressure on employment, housing and public health services.
These pressures are making it increasingly difficult for families to provide children with nutritious food. Meals are becoming smaller, less frequent and less varied, leaving many young children without the nutrients needed for healthy growth and immune-system development.
UNICEF has warned that some infants begin complementary feeding at six months with little more than bread and tea or diluted yoghurt, highlighting the severe food insecurity faced by vulnerable households.
Treatment can save children suffering from severe malnutrition when it is available. UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Tajudeen Oyewale described the case of Sagida, a nine-month-old girl from a flood-affected remote village.
Sagida was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and referred to a hospital by a UNICEF-trained health worker. She weighed only four kilograms and initially had little chance of survival, but stabilised after receiving therapeutic milk.
However, funding shortages are limiting access to such life-saving treatment. More than 100 sites providing treatment for children with severe wasting have closed in 2026 compared with the previous year, placing additional pressure on facilities that remain operational.
UNICEF’s nutrition programme has received only 22% of the $180 million it requires for 2026, leaving a significant funding gap as the number of children needing assistance continues to rise.
UNICEF is urging greater investment in early intervention, warning that children should not have to reach a life-threatening stage before receiving help. Early identification and treatment of malnutrition can save lives while costing significantly less than intensive treatment after severe complications develop.
The situation in Afghanistan highlights the devastating impact of food insecurity, climate shocks, displacement and humanitarian funding shortages on children. Without increased support, millions of vulnerable children could remain at risk of severe malnutrition and preventable death.
