UN warns Afghanistan’s children face growing death toll amid food aid cuts

Child malnutrition has reached critical levels in one-third of Afghanistan’s provinces and is expected to worsen as funding shortages force reductions in food aid and nutrition services, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

The agency said 12 provinces have recorded critical levels of acute child malnutrition — the highest number on record. Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026.

“We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths,” WFP Afghanistan director John Aylieff said, warning that it is already too late for many children.

UN officials said wasting among children has worsened in more than three-quarters of the country, with many arriving at health facilities severely malnourished while others never receive treatment. Last year, 142 health centres closed because of aid reductions, leaving over 13,000 children without access to nutrition care.

The WFP blamed the crisis on conflict, unemployment, soaring food prices, disease outbreaks, poor water and sanitation, and shrinking humanitarian funding. Supply disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East and the prolonged closure of Pakistan’s border have also delayed deliveries of nutrition products, leaving nearly one million women and children without essential support for five months.

The agency said food distributions in the hardest-hit areas will be suspended between August and October due to funding shortages, despite this period being the peak season for malnutrition. WFP is seeking $540 million over the next six months to sustain operations.

The wider UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan remains only about 26% funded, raising concerns that the country’s nutrition crisis could deteriorate further.