UNICEF warns 3.7 million Afghan children face growing risk of malnutrition

The United Nations Children’s Fund has warned that nearly 3.7 million children under the age of five in Afghanistan are at serious risk of malnutrition as food insecurity continues to worsen across the country. The agency is calling for immediate international support, saying early action is essential before the annual peak malnutrition season reaches its most critical stage.

The warning comes in a new UNICEF report titled Too Little, Too Late. The Diet Crisis Facing Young Children in Afghanistan. The study is the first nationwide assessment to examine child malnutrition alongside household food and nutrition conditions. It found that many families are struggling to provide enough nutritious food for their children, with growing signs of poor diets, fewer daily meals, and in some cases children going hungry.

According to UNICEF, the crisis is already worsening before the traditional peak period between July and September. Recent data from the Nutrition Cluster shows that acute malnutrition has increased in 26 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces compared with last year. The agency said this trend suggests conditions could become even more severe in the coming months if urgent action is not taken.

Young children are the most vulnerable. The report found that children under the age of two account for 83 percent of severe acute malnutrition cases and 77 percent of moderate cases. Health experts say children in this age group require nutritious food during their early years for healthy physical and mental development, making them especially vulnerable when families cannot meet their nutritional needs.

UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said many children are already moving closer to malnutrition before the peak season has even begun. He explained that reduced meal frequency and poor access to healthy food are warning signs that require immediate attention. While treatment programs save lives, he stressed that preventing malnutrition through better diets for young children and pregnant women should remain a top priority.

The agency said several factors are contributing to the worsening situation. Ongoing food insecurity, disease outbreaks, low vaccination rates, limited access to clean water and sanitation, and shortages of international funding have all weakened nutrition services across the country. These combined challenges have left millions of families struggling to meet even their basic needs.

UNICEF also warned that children living in households facing severe food shortages are up to six times more likely to develop wasting during the peak season. Wasting is a dangerous form of acute malnutrition that causes children to become extremely thin for their height and can quickly become life threatening without timely medical treatment.

To prevent the crisis from deepening, UNICEF has urged donors and international partners to increase support for nutrition and healthcare programs. The agency called for expanded investment in preventive initiatives such as its First Foods program while also strengthening health services, improving access to clean water and sanitation, supporting education, and expanding social protection for vulnerable families.

With the annual malnutrition season approaching, UNICEF warned that the opportunity to prevent a much larger humanitarian emergency is rapidly shrinking. The agency appealed for flexible and immediate funding to help families before food shortages turn into severe and potentially fatal malnutrition among millions of Afghan children.