Afghanistan faces worsening child malnutrition crisis amid aid cuts and strained health services

Child malnutrition in Afghanistan has reached critical levels, with wasting now severe in a third of provinces. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports that aid shortages force clinics to turn away millions of children and mothers, reaching only one in seven of those in need. About 14 million Afghans face acute hunger and staple food prices have risen 20‑30%. WFP says it needs $500 million over the next six months to stop the crisis from escalating.

The humanitarian situation also strains maternal health services. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes a maternal mortality rate of 638 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest in Asia. Shortages of female health workers, limited supplies and reduced funding worsen access to obstetric and neonatal care. Amid these pressures, Kabul has opened a new cardiac hospital for children, aiming to improve specialized care for the most vulnerable.

Both the surge in child malnutrition and the ongoing maternal health crisis underscore the broader impact of reduced international funding, mass returns of refugees, and economic hardship on Afghanistan’s health system.