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Afghanistan faces record child malnutrition as aid cuts threaten millions
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns that acute child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached critical levels in 12 of the country's 34 provinces, the highest number ever recorded. An estimated 3.7 million children and 1.2 million pregnant or lactating women are projected to suffer acute malnutrition this year.
Children under two years account for about 80 % of the most severe cases, and more than 13 000 children have lost access to nutrition treatment after 142 health centres closed in 2025 due to funding cuts. The agency says a nine‑month closure of the Pakistan border and supply disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East have halted deliveries of essential nutrition products, leaving nearly one million mothers and children without services for five months.
WFP urgently needs $540 million for the next six months to maintain and expand life‑saving nutrition programmes. With funding shortfalls, food distributions aimed at preventing famine are suspended from August through October, the period of peak malnutrition risk.
Entities
Afghanistan · John Aylieff · Olga Cherevko · Pakistan · United Nations · United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) · World Food Programme · World Food Programme (WFP)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 17 SOURCES] Children under two years old account for 80% of the most severe acute malnutrition cases in Afghanistan. agerpres.ro · laprensadelara.com · www.mediafax.ro · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Twelve provinces in Afghanistan have reached critical levels of acute child malnutrition. www.mediafax.ro · agerpres.ro · laprensadelara.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Around 3.7 million Afghan children are expected to suffer acute malnutrition this year. www.mediafax.ro · agerpres.ro · laprensadelara.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] A nine‑month closure of the Pakistan border disrupted food deliveries to Afghanistan. www.mediafax.ro · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · heartofasia.af · oncenoticias.digital · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] More than 13,000 children have lost access to nutrition treatment in Afghanistan. www.mediafax.ro · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · heartofasia.af · oncenoticias.digital · +10 more
- [DISPUTED] 142 health centres in Afghanistan closed in 2025 due to reductions in humanitarian aid. www.mediafax.ro · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · heartofasia.af · oncenoticias.digital · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The UN WFP needs $540 million in funding for the next six months to operate in Afghanistan. www.mediafax.ro · agerpres.ro · laprensadelara.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · +10 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Approximately 1.2 million pregnant and lactating women in Afghanistan face acute malnutrition. www.mediafax.ro · laprensadelara.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · labandadiario.com · heartofasia.af · +10 more