UNICEF reports one million Afghan children facing life-threatening malnutrition
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UNICEF reported that one million children in Afghanistan were suffering from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition, with 3.7 million children experiencing wasting across the country. UNICEF country representative Tajudeen Oyewale stated that the crisis worsened significantly, noting that hospital admissions for malnutrition rose by a third in July 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. This situation followed the economic collapse that occurred after the Taliban government returned to power in 2021. In some southern regions, hospitals reportedly faced capacity issues, managing three to four severely malnourished children for every available bed.
Consequences
Without immediate treatment and intervention, the one million children identified with severe acute malnutrition faced a high risk of death. The high volume of cases, particularly among infants under six months old, threatened to overwhelm the existing medical infrastructure and hospital capacity in the region.
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