GHOR, Afghanistan — As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, Afghan families say they are unable to afford food for their children, many of whom are now suffering from severe malnutrition.
Abdullah, a father of three, earns between 200 to 300 Afghanis ($2 to $3) a day. He says his income is not enough to meet his family’s basic nutritional needs. Now, all three of his children are malnourished.
“Doctors told me my sons have severe malnutrition and need to be admitted to a clinic. But when I took them, they were not admitted. I have no means to get them treated,” Abdullah told Amu.
Mothers, too, are struggling. Many say they cannot afford proper meals and survive on little more than bread and tea, which affects their ability to breastfeed their infants.
“We eat a proper meal maybe once every two or three months. Most of the time, we only have dry bread and tea,” said Shima, a mother in Ghor. “I have stomach problems, and when I eat just bread and tea, I get so sick I can barely function for days.”
Doctors warn that maternal nutrition is critical for infants’ health, but hunger is widespread.
The crisis is deepening as international aid organizations reduce their operations in Afghanistan due to funding shortages. Save the Children recently announced it is suspending its malnutrition programs, while the United Nations has warned that millions—especially children—are facing severe food insecurity.
