UN Warns One Million Afghan Children Face Life-Threatening Malnutrition

The United Nations warned on Tuesday that one million children in Afghanistan are suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF reports that 3.7 million children nationwide suffer from wasting, with children under two years old accounting for over 80% of severe cases. Infants under six months now make up nearly 40% of hospital admissions for severe wasting.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF's Afghanistan representative, reported that hospital admissions in July 2026 rose by one-third compared to the previous year. He noted that some hospitals in southern Afghanistan are seeing three or four severely malnourished children for every available bed.

The crisis stems from an economic collapse following the 2021 return to power of the Taliban-led government, further aggravated by drought, flash floods, and the return of six million Afghans from abroad since 2023. While needs have increased, international aid cuts have forced the closure of over 100 treatment sites since 2025. UNICEF's $180 million nutrition program for the country is currently only 22% funded.