The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of child nutrition in Afghanistan. According to the agency’s assessment, Afghanistan is currently facing the worst child malnutrition crisis in its history.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Monday, April 7, WFP reported that every 10 seconds, a child in Afghanistan becomes malnourished. The organization estimates that 3.5 million children in the country will suffer from malnutrition this year.
Mutinta Chimuka, Acting Country Director for WFP in Afghanistan, warned that funding shortages are placing millions of Afghans especially mothers and children at serious risk. She emphasized that only adequate financial resources can prevent the crisis from worsening.
The deepening economic poverty and rising unemployment are key factors contributing to child malnutrition in Afghanistan. United Nations-affiliated agencies have repeatedly warned about escalating poverty in the country. However, the Taliban has dismissed reports by international organizations on Afghanistan as “negative and inaccurate propaganda”, instead of addressing the crisis.
