More than 3.5 million children under the age of five in Afghanistan are suffering from malnutrition, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Among them, 1.4 million are experiencing severe acute malnutrition, a potentially fatal condition if left untreated.
Amirhossein Yarparvar, UNICEF’s Head of Nutrition in Afghanistan, said rising migration, limited food access, and a strained healthcare system have fuelled the worsening crisis.
“Data from the Nutrition Information System shows that more than 28,000 children with severe acute malnutrition are currently hospitalised,” he said. “They are under six months old, and 30% are at an age where breast milk is their only suitable source of nutrition.”
UNICEF says breastfeeding promotion must be a national health priority.
Speaking to local broadcaster TOLO News, Haydarkhan Haidar, Director of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Public Health, said exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months can prevent up to 50% of infant deaths.
He urged ministries beyond the health sector to get involved.
“The Ministries of Economy, Commerce, and Finance should promote breastfeeding in public campaigns rather than advertising formula products,” he said.
Hekmatullah Masoumi, Director of Public Nutrition at the Ministry, said nearly two million children with acute and moderate malnutrition have received treatment this year.
However, the return of large numbers of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan has stretched services further. Health facilities across several provinces are reporting shortages of staff and supplies.
Abdulwali Haqqani, Deputy Minister for Health Services, said: “Breastfeeding is a basic right of every child, and no substitute food can replace its value.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition remains a leading cause of death among children under five worldwide, contributing to 45% of all under-five deaths.
In Afghanistan, the situation is particularly urgent. With shrinking resources, the return of thousands of displaced families, and mounting pressure on public health services, the need for a coordinated national response has never been greater.
UNICEF and the Ministry of Public Health have both called for increased investment in nutrition services, breastfeeding promotion, and access to life-saving care, warning that without swift action, the gains made in child health in recent years could be rapidly undone.
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At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to ripple across multiple regions, from Ukraine to the Middle East, the South Caucasus once again finds itself at the crossroads of diplomacy and uncertainty.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
Australia and Japan agreed on Monday to deepen cooperation on energy and critical minerals, as Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during a three-day visit.
Australia began public hearings on Monday in an inquiry into the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December, with Jewish Australians giving evidence about their experiences of rising domestic antisemitism.
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