Afghanistan: 3.7 million young people are at risk of malnutrition, UNICEF warns

The warning came in a new form report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), published on Sunday, stated that child food and nutritional insecurity is one of the main causes of malnutrition in the country.

Wasting is the most immediately visible and life-threatening form of malnutritionand is caused by recent food shortages, disease, or both.

Children suffering from this condition are too thin for their height and their weak immune systems make them vulnerable to developmental delays, disease, and death.

The crisis is deepening

The report,Too Little, Too Late: The Dietary Crisis Facing Young Children in Afghanistanwas released as the country enters peak defecation season in July to September. The latest data shows that conditions in 26 of 34 provinces have worsened compared to 2025, indicating an earlier and deeper crisis.

For the first time on this scale in Afghanistan, UNICEF is measuring child malnutrition alongside the experiences of food and nutrition insecurity experienced by the same group of children across the province.

New findings aims to help identify risks earlybefore children experience severe malnutrition and require immediate treatment.

The study showed early warning signs such as reduced food variety, skipped meals, and children eating less than they need or going hungry. Children under two years of age are the most affected group, and account for 83 percent of cases of severe acute malnutrition and 77 percent of cases of moderate acute malnutrition.

‘Invest in prevention’

“Young children in Afghanistan are getting closer to malnutrition even before the peak season begins,” said Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in the country.

“When a family begins to cut back on portion sizes or cut back on nutritious foods, this is not only a sign of distress, but also a warning that a child will soon become very thin.”

He noted that although treatment saves lives, “we must also invest in prevention, starting with the diet of our youngest children and pregnant women.”

Lack of water and funding

New analysis shows that children in highly food insecure households are six times more likely to suffer from wasting during peak periods of malnutrition.

Especially the latest from UNICEF Afghanistan Nutrition Cluster Alert underscores why the response must go beyond nutrition services alone.

In addition to poor child diets and increasing food insecurity, worsening malnutrition is also linked to disease outbreaks, low immunization coverage, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene services, and increasing funding and supply gaps – all of which undermine children’s health and increase their vulnerability to wasting.

‘The window for action is narrowing’

With defecation season approaching, UNICEF is calling for urgent investment to protect children’s diets and prevent more children from becoming malnourished.

This action also includes increasing its scaleFood First Initiativeprioritizing children aged six to 23 months, strengthening preventive nutrition services, and ensuring alignment of critical services around children’s nutritional needs.

“The window of opportunity for action is narrowing,” UNICEF said, stressing that “the warning signs were visible early, and the response must have been earlier.”

Agency underscores the need for urgent and flexible funding now to reach families before the crisis worsens.