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UNICEF warns 1 million Afghan children at risk of death from malnutrition

UNICEF warns 1 million Afghan children at risk of death from malnutrition

Summary

UNICEF warns that one million children in Afghanistan face life-threatening malnutrition and need urgent treatment. The malnutrition crisis has worsened, with many young children, especially babies under six months and toddlers under two, at severe risk of death.

Key Facts

  • About 3.7 million children in Afghanistan suffer from acute malnutrition, also called "wasting."
  • One million children have severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form of hunger.
  • Nearly 40% of severely malnourished children admitted to hospitals are babies younger than six months.
  • Children under two years old represent more than 80% of severe cases.
  • Hospital admissions for malnutrition have increased by one third from July 2025 to July 2026.
  • Some hospitals in southern Afghanistan are overwhelmed, with three or four children needing care for every hospital bed.
  • The malnutrition crisis is linked to ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and instability since the Taliban took power in 2021.
  • Malnutrition is a major cause of death among very young children in Afghanistan.
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