The agency warned that hospitals are struggling to cope with rising numbers of severely malnourished children as a combination of drought, flooding, economic pressures and humanitarian funding shortages deepens the crisis.
UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Tajudeen Oyewale said children under the age of two account for 83% of severe acute malnutrition cases.
UNICEF reported that in parts of southern Afghanistan, hospitals are receiving three to four severely malnourished children for every available treatment bed.
The agency said admissions of severely malnourished children with medical complications increased from 6 000 cases in July 2025 to 8 000 cases in July 2026, representing a rise of about 33%.
According to UNICEF, the worsening nutrition crisis is being driven by overlapping environmental and economic pressures.
Afghanistan has experienced years of drought followed by heavy rainfall and flash floods, while this year’s strong El Niño weather pattern is expected to intensify extreme weather conditions.
The agency also cited regional instability and the return of more than six million people since 2023 as factors placing additional pressure on food supplies, jobs, housing and public services.
UNICEF said many families can no longer afford diverse and nutritious diets for their children.
The agency noted that some infants begin complementary feeding at six months with little more than bread and tea or diluted yoghurt.
Despite the severity of the crisis, UNICEF said effective treatment is available when children can access healthcare facilities.
Oyewale highlighted the case of nine-month-old Sagida, who was admitted to hospital suffering from severe acute malnutrition after being identified by a UNICEF-trained health worker in a flood-affected area.
“When Sagida was first admitted, the doctors had little hope that she would survive. She weighed only 4kg. But after receiving therapeutic milk, she has now stabilised,” Oyewale said.
UNICEF warned that aid funding shortfalls are limiting the response.
More than 100 nutrition treatment centres have closed this year compared with 2025, placing additional strain on facilities that remain operational.
The agency said its nutrition programme has received only 22% of the $180 million required this year. “We should not wait until a child is dangerously thin and lying in a hospital bed before we intervene,” Oyewale said.
“Acting early does not only save lives. It is also far more cost-effective than waiting until a child is severely malnourished and needs life-saving treatment.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
