World · Malaysia Bureau
Afghanistan closes 100+ child nutrition centres amid funding crisis
More than 100 facilities treating malnourished children across Afghanistan have shuttered due to lack of funding, exacerbating a severe health crisis affecting millions of youngsters. The closures come as 3.7 million Afghan children battle acute malnutrition, with roughly one million in critical condition.
LSN Malaysia ·
The closure of over 100 child malnutrition treatment centres represents a significant setback in Afghanistan's efforts to combat widespread nutritional deficiencies among its youngest and most vulnerable population. The facilities, which provided critical care and nutritional support, have ceased operations due to insufficient financial resources to sustain their programmes.
The scale of malnutrition in Afghanistan remains alarming, with approximately 3.7 million children currently suffering from acute malnutrition. Within this figure, around one million children face life-threatening severe acute malnutrition, a condition that demands immediate medical intervention and specialised nutritional support.
The funding shortfall has forced humanitarian organisations and health authorities to make difficult decisions about resource allocation. With treatment capacity now diminished, remaining facilities face increased pressure to serve a patient base that far exceeds available resources and staff capacity.
The situation underscores the broader humanitarian challenges facing Afghanistan, where economic instability and reduced international assistance have constrained the delivery of essential health services. Child nutrition programmes remain among the most critical interventions in developing regions, directly impacting childhood mortality rates, cognitive development, and long-term health outcomes.