UN warns one million Afghan children face life-threatening malnutrition
The United Nations says one million children in Afghanistan are suffering from severe acute malnutrition that could be fatal without urgent treatment.
UN officials announced that a million Afghan children are battling life-threatening severe acute malnutrition, part of a broader crisis affecting 3.7 million children who are wasting. Tajudeen Oyewale highlighted that infants under six months represent nearly 40 % of hospitalised severe cases, while children under two account for more than 80 % of all severe acute malnutrition. Hospital admissions have climbed from about 6,000 in July 2025 to over 8,000 in July 2026, straining capacity especially in southern regions.
Recurrent droughts, floods, and regional instability worsen food insecurity, and the return of six million Afghans since 2023 adds pressure to limited resources. International aid reductions have led to the shutdown of more than 100 treatment sites since 2025, leaving UNICEF’s 2026 nutrition programme only 22 % funded.
Why it matters
The crisis threatens the lives of a million children and signals a deepening humanitarian emergency in Afghanistan.
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