UNICEF says 3.7 million children at heightened risk of malnutrition in Afghanistan in 2026
Kabul, July 13
As many as 3.7 million children aged below five years are at increased risk of undernutrition in Afghanistan in 2026 due to child food and nutrition insecurity, the United Nations Children's Fund said in a report.
In its report "Too Little, Too Late: The diet Crisis Facing Young Children in Afghanistan", UNICEF said acute malnutrition has deteriorated in 26 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces compared to 2025. The UN agency stated that conditions are worsening even before Afghanistan's annual peak malnutrition season, which mainly runs from July to September.
According to UNICEF, 83 per cent of severe malnutrition cases and 77 per cent of moderate acute malnutrition cases occur among children aged below two years, showcasing the increasing vulnerability of children during the most critical stage of physical and cognitive development. The UN agency stated that children residing in severely food-insecure households are up to six times more likely to experience severe wasting during the peak malnutrition period.
UNICEF's Representative in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, said: "This new evidence gives us an opportunity to act before children reach the point of severe malnutrition. When families begin reducing meals or cutting back on nutritious foods it is not only a sign of hardship. It is a warning that a child may soon become dangerously wasted. Treatment saves lives, but we must also invest in prevention, starting with the diets of the youngest children and pregnant women."
Apart from poor young child diets and rising food insecurity, worsening malnutrition in Afghanistan is due to disease outbreaks, low immunisation coverage, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services, and growing funding and supply gaps.
In a statement, UNICEF stated: "Together, these pressures are increasing children's vulnerability to wasting and underline the need for coordinated action across nutrition, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and social protection services."
Earlier in June, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that 16 million people in Afghanistan will need access to clean water and sanitation services in 2026, Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported.
The OCHA said water scarcity is exposing children to greater health risks and affecting daily life in Afghanistan, forcing people to take coping mechanisms amid deteriorating conditions. The agency stated that access to safe drinking water and sanitation in Afghanistan is a critical humanitarian challenge, Khaama Press reported.
Over the years, Afghanistan has faced recurring droughts, inadequate water-management infrastructure and poverty, resulting in millions of people facing difficulty in getting sufficient water for drinking, household use and agriculture. Humanitarian agencies have said that climate-related shocks are increasing pressure on already fragile communities in Afghanistan.
— IANS
Reader Comments
3.7 million children under five at risk? That's almost the population of some Indian states. The report says 83% of severe malnutrition cases are in children under two - that's the age when brain development happens. If we don't act, an entire generation could be permanently affected. The water scarcity angle is also critical, as OCHA highlighted.
As an aid worker who has been to Afghanistan, I can confirm that the situation is dire. The link between food insecurity, poor sanitation, and malnutrition is undeniable. But the report also mentions "growing funding and supply gaps" - that's the elephant in the room. Global donors need to honour their commitments, not just talk about saving children.
I feel for these families. In India, we have the Mid-Day Meal scheme and Anganwadi centres that provide nutrition to children. Afghanistan doesn't have that kind of infrastructure. The UN and NGOs must focus on prevention, as UNICEF's representative said. Treating severe malnutrition is expensive and often too late. Prevention through better diets and clean water is key.
This is a classic case of "too little, too late" as the report title suggests. The fact that conditions are worsening even before the peak malnutrition season (July-September) is alarming. We need immediate action, not just reports. India should leverage its experience in combating malnutrition to help Afghanistan through bilateral channels.
While I'm saddened by this news, I can't help but think about the lack of women's education and healthcare in Afghanistan under the current regime. Educated mothers are less likely to have malnourished children.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.