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Afghanistan's Child Crisis: 3.5 Million Face Severe Malnutrition Amid Aid Cuts

The World Food Programme has issued a dire warning about Afghanistan's escalating humanitarian crisis. With 3.5 million children facing severe malnutrition, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate as aid operations shrink. The agency is working to provide school meals and nutritional services despite operational challenges and restrictions on women's development. Meanwhile, UNICEF reports that one in five Afghan children are forced into child labour, with many having to choose between work and education due to extreme poverty.

Key Points: WFP Warns 3.5 Million Afghan Children Face Severe Malnutrition

  • WFP warns 3.5 million Afghan children face severe malnutrition due to shrinking aid
  • Agency distributes school meals to keep vulnerable students in classrooms
  • UNICEF reports one in five Afghan children involved in child labour
  • Winter conditions expected to worsen food access and malnutrition crisis
2 min read

WFP warns 3.5 million children face severe malnutrition in Afghanistan

World Food Programme warns 3.5 million Afghan children face severe malnutrition as aid operations shrink and winter approaches, worsening humanitarian crisis.

"Some days when I come to look for work, there is nothing, so I have to skip school and work instead. - Suhel, child labourer"

Kabul, Nov 21

The World Food Programme (WFP) has said that 3.5 million children in Afghanistan face severe malnutrition due to shrinking aid operations and warned that the country’s worsening humanitarian conditions are leaving millions at risk, the local media reported on Friday.

In a statement shared on X, WFP stated that they are working to support Afghan children through food-assistance programmes despite facing operational challenges, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported.

WFP said it is distributing school meals to improve development of children, with a goal to keep vulnerable students in classrooms amid deepening economic pressure. The agency further said that it provides nutritional services at health centres in Afghanistan to reduce malnutrition, particularly among young children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.

The agency noted that it had previously warned that Afghan women were losing their children due to malnutrition and warned that the onset of winter would further worsen inadequate food access. Many international organisations have reduced or suspended their operations in Afghanistan due to interference by the authorities and restrictions on women's development.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that one in every five children in Afghanistan is involved in child labour, Afghanistan-based Tolo News reported.

UNICEF spokesperson in Afghanistan, Omidurrahman Fazel, stated, "Regardless of the reason, UNICEF is committed to ending all forms of child labour in any shape or form. Therefore, UNICEF emphasises family-based solutions to this issue."

Suhel, a child labour, stated, "Some days when I come to look for work, there is nothing, so I have to skip school and work instead. If I go to school, I can’t work. This job has no future, but school does."

Another child labourer, Ali Dad, said that he wanted to go to school, however, he could not do it due to poverty.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the situation is tragic, we must also remember that India has its own challenges with malnutrition. Our government's mid-day meal scheme has been successful - maybe Afghanistan could learn from our experience?
S
Sarah B
The restrictions on women's development mentioned in the article are particularly concerning. How can a society progress when half its population is held back? This affects children's futures directly.
A
Arjun K
India should consider increasing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. We share historical and cultural ties, and helping our neighbors in need is part of our ethos of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).
M
Michael C
The child labour statistics are devastating. Education is the only way out of poverty, but when families can't afford food, children have to work. It's a vicious cycle that needs international intervention.
K
Kavya N
While I sympathize with the Afghan people, I wonder if some aid organizations could work more effectively with local communities rather than withdrawing completely. Abandoning people in need isn't the solution.

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