‘More than 3.5 million Afghan children malnourished,’ says UNICEF as health crisis deepens

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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