Politics · India Bureau
One million Afghan children face life-threatening malnutrition: UN report
The United Nations has warned that approximately one million children in Afghanistan are suffering from severe malnutrition that poses an immediate threat to their survival. The crisis follows economic collapse in the country since the Taliban's return to power.
LSN India ·
Afghanistan is grappling with a severe humanitarian emergency as malnutrition rates among its youngest population have reached critical levels, according to UN findings. The scale of child malnutrition underscores the deepening food insecurity gripping the nation, where millions lack access to adequate nutrition and basic sustenance.
The country's descent into nutritional crisis is rooted in decades of instability and conflict. Afghanistan has experienced repeated hunger emergencies throughout the civil war and subsequent crises that have destabilized the nation, leaving its healthcare and food systems severely weakened.
The situation has deteriorated sharply since the Taliban government's return to power, triggering an economic collapse that has crippled the country's ability to feed its population. With formal employment disrupted and economic activity severely constrained, families have lost their primary means of securing food, forcing millions into desperate circumstances.
The malnutrition crisis carries long-term consequences for Afghanistan's development, as severe childhood malnutrition can cause permanent physical and cognitive damage. The UN assessment highlights the urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance and international support to prevent further deterioration in child health outcomes across the country.