KABUL, Afghanistan — As international funding cuts force health clinics to shut down across Afghanistan, many citizens say access to treatment for malnutrition is becoming increasingly difficult.
Residents report that following the closure of centers focused on child healthcare, cases of malnutrition among children have surged. Some families say their children have developed severe malnutrition due to a lack of adequate food.
Abdul Samad, a resident of Ghor Province, said he has three children suffering from acute malnutrition. He described how, with the closure of nearby clinics and his limited income, he can neither secure medical treatment nor provide sufficient food for his family.
“I took my children to the doctors, and they said they were severely malnourished and needed treatment at a clinic,” he said. “But the clinics refused to admit my children, and I have no money to pay for private treatment.”
The situation is no better in the southern province of Uruzgan, where children are reportedly suffering from extreme hunger-related conditions, including physical deformities caused by chronic malnutrition.
Two-year-old Spozhmai, for example, cannot walk due to inadequate and unhealthy nutrition. Her father, Kamaluddin, said he struggles daily to find food, often relying on stale bread discarded in local markets to feed his family.
“I have no money for proper food or medical care,” Kamaluddin said. “I buy dry leftover bread, mix it with water, and feed it to my children.”
The World Food Program recently warned that Afghanistan is facing the worst malnutrition crisis in its history, describing the situation as an unprecedented emergency. The agency estimates that 3.5 million children will suffer from malnutrition in 2025 alone.
WFP emphasized that children are bearing the brunt of the crisis and called for sustained international funding to continue life-saving support.
The deepening humanitarian crisis comes as the United States and other donors have dramatically reduced aid to Afghanistan, leading to the closure of numerous health centers that previously focused on child nutrition and treatment programs.
