KABUL
Afghanistan is facing a deepening nutrition crisis, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warning that around 3.7 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026. In a statement, OCHA said the situation is worsening rapidly and urgent international funding is needed to prevent further loss of life and long-term harm to children. The agency added that malnutrition levels have increased in most provinces compared to last year.
According to reports, the crisis is spreading across 26 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces even before the peak hunger season, which usually begins between July and September. Officials said this shows that the emergency is arriving earlier and becoming more severe. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also warned that Afghanistan’s wider humanitarian and economic situation continues to decline. It said millions of people are struggling to meet basic needs due to poverty, drought, and reduced international aid.
The UNDP noted that economic growth remains far below population growth, causing falling incomes and rising hardship. Many families are reportedly relying on extreme coping methods to survive, while most households are already in debt. The report also pointed to worsening drought conditions, the return of millions of migrants, and declining healthcare access as major factors increasing pressure on families.
In addition, UN agencies have linked parts of the crisis to restrictions on women’s education and employment, saying these measures have reduced household earnings and weakened the workforce. Health and water services are also under strain, with many medical centres shut or operating with limited capacity due to funding shortages, raising concerns about a worsening humanitarian emergency.