The U.N. World Food Program warns child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached critical levels in one-third of provinces and is poised to worsen as funding shortfalls force cuts to food distributions and services. WFP says 142 health centers closed in 2025, cutting nutrition treatment for more than 13,000 children, and projects nearly 3.7 million children and 1.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women will suffer acute malnutrition this year. Supply disruptions and a sharp drop in humanitarian funding mean food distributions will be suspended during the peak malnutrition season unless donors provide immediate support. WFP urgently needs $540 million over six months to prevent more child deaths.
U.N.: Afghan Child Deaths Rise as Food Aid Cuts Push Malnutrition to Crisis
FILE - Afghan women care for their children in the malnutrition ward at Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai, File)
Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached critical levels in one-third of the country's provinces and is expected to worsen as funding shortfalls force cuts to food distributions and other life-saving services, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) warned Tuesday.
"We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths, which this crisis is provoking," said John Aylieff, WFP's country director in Afghanistan. "It is already too late for too many."
Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office covering Afghanistan, said nutrition specialists report that "wasting among children has worsened this year in over three-quarters of the country." Children with wasting are acutely malnourished, appear very thin for their height and require immediate therapeutic feeding.
WFP reported that 142 health centers closed in 2025 because of aid reductions, cutting access to nutrition treatment for more than 13,000 children. Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children and 1.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women are projected to suffer acute malnutrition this year. The agency said 12 provinces have reached record-high, critical levels of acute child malnutrition.
The WFP attributed the deteriorating situation to a combination of factors: ongoing conflict, high unemployment, rising food prices, outbreaks of disease, poor water and sanitation, and sharply reduced humanitarian funding. Supply chain disruptions tied to fighting in the Middle East and a nine-month closure of the Pakistan border have interrupted deliveries of nutrition products, leaving nearly one million malnourished women and children without essential services for months.
From August through October — the annual peak season for malnutrition — WFP said food distributions aimed at preventing famine in the worst-hit areas will be suspended due to lack of funds. The agency urgently needs $540 million over the next six months to sustain lifesaving operations. The larger $1.71 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan is only about 26% funded.
Humanitarian funding for food assistance has fallen by roughly 59% since 2022, even as needs have surged. In June, the United States pledged $800 million to WFP; WFP said that contribution will support millions globally, but critical gaps remain in Afghanistan.
WFP warned that closed health centers and suspended distributions mean many children will not receive the therapeutic feeding they need. "Too many children arrive at health facilities severely malnourished while others never make it," Cherevko said.
What Needs To Happen: Immediate donor funding and logistical support are required to reopen nutrition services, restore food deliveries during the peak malnutrition season, and scale up therapeutic feeding programs to prevent further child deaths.
Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations.
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