Afghanistan malnutrition crisis: 4 million children may need treatment by 2027

UNICEF and Action Against Hunger have warned that acute malnutrition in Afghanistan is worsening, with projections suggesting more than 4 million children will require treatment by 2027. This represents the highest number recorded in the last five years.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, the number of provinces facing critical malnutrition levels is expected to rise from 10 in 2026 to 14 in 2027, affecting more than one-third of the country. Of the children affected, approximately 1.09 million are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a 16 percent increase from 2026 levels, while 3 million are projected to experience moderate acute malnutrition.

The crisis also impacts maternal health, with an estimated 1.3 million pregnant or breastfeeding women expected to suffer from malnutrition during this period. Humanitarian agencies cite worsening food insecurity, limited access to clean water, disease outbreaks, and a drastic drop in funding as primary drivers of the escalating situation.