Afghanistan children face severe hunger and rights crisis, UN expert warns

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett has warned that Afghan children are facing a devastating humanitarian and human rights crisis under Taliban rule. In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Bennett stated that approximately 9 million children—roughly one in three in the country—face severe hunger, with 3.7 million children under the age of five suffering from acute malnutrition.

The report highlights how Taliban policies have fundamentally altered the environment in which children develop. Key issues include the systematic denial of education for girls beyond the sixth grade, increased exposure to child labor, forced marriage, and ideological indoctrination. Bennett noted that while women and girls face extreme discrimination, boys are also at risk of corporal punishment and recruitment by Taliban forces.

Beyond physical health and nutrition, the report warns of a growing mental health crisis. The dismantling of child protection systems and the implementation of restrictive ideological controls are described as undermining the ability of an entire generation to determine their own futures.