The World Food Programme (WFP) has projected that 3.5 million Afghan children will experience malnutrition this year, the highest level in four years, signalling an escalating crisis.
The UN agency also estimates that 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in Afghanistan are currently malnourished and require urgent treatment and nutritional support.
In a report published on Wednesday, WFP indicated that around 15 million Afghans need emergency food aid to survive. It revealed that 8 out of 10 families cannot afford even basic, low-nutrient food, with three-quarters of households borrowing money to cover essentials.
Mona Shaikh, WFP’s head of nutrition, described the worsening conditions, stating, “People are in a very difficult situation. We are seeing more and more women and children coming to the clinics. Many of these mothers are very young.” She added, “If mothers are malnourished, their children will also suffer,” noting that the influx of women seeking help at healthcare facilities has consistently surpassed projections.
The report underscored WFP’s role as a critical lifeline for women struggling to feed themselves and their children, while pointing to Taliban restrictions that continue to marginalise women, forcing them into desperate measures. On Tuesday, WFP cautioned that without immediate funding, its child malnutrition prevention programmes in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria could halt within months. The agency requires $1.4 billion to maintain operations across 56 countries in 2025.
International organisations have reported a sharp rise in humanitarian needs since the Taliban’s takeover, with poverty and hunger intensifying. However, in his recent Eid al-Fitr address, the Taliban’s supreme leader rejected claims of economic hardship, calling them “propaganda of malicious circles and intelligence organizations” and urging Afghans to dismiss such narratives.
