UN Warns Afghanistan Faces Worst Wave of Child Malnutrition in History

Kokcha News Agency – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that Afghanistan is grappling with the most severe wave of child malnutrition in its history. The organization emphasized that it urgently needs $539 million to assist vulnerable families across the country.

Alarming Statistics:
According to the WFP, nearly a quarter of Afghanistan’s population, approximately 10 million people, are experiencing severe food insecurity. One in three children is suffering from stunted growth, a direct consequence of malnutrition.

Factors Contributing to the Crisis:
The report highlights that the reduction in emergency food aid over the past two years, due to decreased funding from international donors, has been a major factor in the rise of child malnutrition. In April, the US government, under President Donald Trump, halted food aid to Afghanistan. The US was the largest donor to the WFP last year, contributing $4.5 billion out of the organization’s total $9.8 billion budget.

Impact of Returning Migrants:
The WFP also noted that the large-scale return of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has exacerbated the food crisis. In the past two months, only 60,000 returnees from Iran have received assistance.

Ziauddin Safi, WFP’s communications officer, told the Associated Press that the organization currently lacks sufficient funds to meet the needs of returning migrants and requires an additional $15 million to assist all eligible returnees from Iran.

Funding Shortfall:
Safi stated that a total of $539 million is needed to provide essential aid to vulnerable families across Afghanistan until January.

Taliban’s Concerns Over Climate Change:
Taliban officials have expressed concern over the impact of climate change on the population. Muttaqi Khalis, head of the Taliban’s National Environmental Protection Agency, recently stated that drought, water shortages, reduced arable land, and sudden floods have significantly affected the country’s livelihoods and economy.