The United Kingdom-based Save the Children has revealed a concerning trend: one in ten infants and very young children in Afghanistan is currently suffering from acute malnutrition. This alarming statistic, coupled with a recent study indicating a rising rate of malnutrition, underscores a critical crisis facing the nation. The situation has been exacerbated by a confluence of factors, primarily the closure of essential health services due to a lack of funding and the subsequent withdrawal of foreign aid. The number of children at risk of malnutrition in Afghanistan is on the rise, reaching a staggering 3.7 million in 2026, a figure significantly higher than the previous year’s 14% increase. This rise is directly linked to the slowing of humanitarian aid, which has forced approximately 600 essential healthcare facilities to close. Save the Children notes that the United Nations figures show that malnutrition among young children in Afghanistan is increasing, with nearly one in 10 Afghan children below the age of five now in a state of malnutrition. The agency highlighted that levels of acute malnutrition had worsened in two-thirds of provinces in the second quarter of 2026, a stark contrast to the 14% increase observed in the same period last year. The agency emphasized that the crisis is driven by a slowdown in humanitarian aid, which has impacted approximately 74% of the total aid received, leaving only $438 million available for the year. This represents a funding gap of nearly 74%, a figure that is critical considering the significant impact on the health and well-being of children. The situation is particularly dire for Afghanistan’s population, which has increased by 12% since September 2023, largely due to increased refugee flows from Pakistan and Iran. Save the Children’s operations have been focused on maintaining 14 health clinics, the only healthcare providers serving 10,000 people in the mountainous areas of northern Afghanistan. These clinics represent a lifeline for vulnerable children, but their continued operation is threatened by the broader crisis. The Taliban takeover in August 2021, followed by the withdrawal of US forces and the collapse of Ghani’s government, has dramatically reduced foreign aid, further compounding the challenges. Prior to 2021, the US was Afghanistan’s largest donor, financing major development and reconstruction projects, and disbursing substantial humanitarian aid. Since the takeover, most US aid has been channeled through indirect channels, including the UN and NGOs, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of aid reaching Afghanistan. The Trump administration implemented a radical cut in foreign aid since 2021, further exacerbating the situation. Experts suggest that the world cannot look away from the severity of the situation. The increasing hunger, the sheer number of returnees, and the mass internal displacement due to disasters, coupled with the recent conflict, are stretching limited humanitarian resources to the brink. The situation is further complicated by the Taliban’s ban on female humanitarian staff, restricting agencies’ ability to provide essential services to vulnerable populations, and further limiting access to crucial healthcare.”
Source: Al Jazeera
