A new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund warns that malnutrition rates among children and pregnant women in Afghanistan have surged, driven by prolonged food insecurity, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, and limited healthcare services.
The report, released by UNICEF, found that the number of Afghan districts classified at Level 4—the second-most severe category for malnutrition—has nearly tripled, rising from 19 in 2024 to 56 in 2025.
“In total, 7.8 million children under the age of 5 and women will require nutrition assistance in 2025, including 3.5 million acutely malnourished children and 1.1 million women in need of treatment,” the report states.
For many families, the crisis has had devastating consequences.
“Since I am the breadwinner of the household, it is very difficult for me. We are struggling a lot, and most of the time, my children go to sleep without food. Life and conditions are very tough,” said Marzia, a resident of Badghis Province.
Others cited a lack of access to medical care as a growing concern.
“Our problem is that we don’t have a clinic. We can’t take our sick family members anywhere, and their condition worsens or they pass away,” said Humaira, another Badghis resident. “We don’t have clean water; the water is contaminated, and all illnesses come from it. We have many problems.”
According to UNICEF, an estimated 22.9 million people—more than half of Afghanistan’s population—will require humanitarian aid in 2025, including 12 million children. The organization also warned that the exclusion of women and girls from education and employment under Taliban rule has heightened their vulnerability, further exacerbating the crisis.
