The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the number of children under five suffering from malnutrition in Afghanistan could rise to 3.5 million by 2025.
Over the past five years, an estimated three million children in Afghanistan have experienced acute malnutrition, the UN agency said.
In a statement released Tuesday, OCHA called on the international community to increase humanitarian support, particularly to provide essential nutrients for infants and mothers. The agency emphasized that such aid could help ensure a healthy diet and adequate daily nutrition for families.
UN data indicates that widespread poverty and hunger, especially among women and children, are driving the alarming rise in malnutrition. Last year, the World Food Programme reported that nearly four million children and nursing mothers were malnourished. UNICEF estimated that 2.9 million children suffered from acute malnutrition.
OCHA projects that by 2025, approximately 22.9 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance. To address this crisis, the agency has estimated a funding need of $2.24 billion.
Despite the urgent need, only 40 percent of the $3.06 billion requested for humanitarian assistance in 2024 was funded. The Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, managed by the UN, continues to pool resources to support frontline organizations, aiming to prioritize those most in need.
However, concerns are growing over the potential decline in foreign aid, especially from the United States. Aid levels have fallen since the Trump administration’s tenure, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
