Malnutrition is increasing in 53 percent of surveyed areas across Afghanistan, with reported cases doubling over the past three months in 44 percent of those areas, according to a new assessment by REACH, supported by the United Nations.
The assessment, conducted from May 10 to June 7 across 401 districts and based on information from 12,854 key informants, found that rising food prices, economic hardship, climate shocks and declining humanitarian assistance are worsening food insecurity and increasing pressure on vulnerable households.
The sharpest increases in reported malnutrition were recorded in Panjshir, Faryab and Laghman, at 89 percent, 85 percent and 83 percent respectively.
The assessment estimated that 21.9 million people, nearly 45 percent of Afghanistan’s population, need humanitarian assistance. Food insecurity was reported as a serious or very serious problem in 65 percent of surveyed areas, while 55 percent reported significant food-price increases during the previous month.
Economic hardship is also forcing families to sell essential assets. In 87 percent of surveyed areas, key informants reported an increase in households selling livestock because of insufficient income or food.
Humanitarian assistance was reported in only 29 percent of surveyed areas during the previous three months, down from 37 percent in March, highlighting the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available assistance.
Climate shocks are adding to the pressure. Drought was identified as a factor contributing to displacement in 40 percent of surveyed areas, while recent floods caused severe damage to homes in 15 percent.
The return of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan is placing further pressure on vulnerable communities. Half of the surveyed areas reported receiving returnees from the two countries, while 57 percent said those returnees had received no humanitarian assistance after arriving.
The assessment also found significant barriers to healthcare, with 77 percent of surveyed areas reporting shortages of medicines and medical equipment and 59 percent identifying treatment costs as unaffordable.
The findings highlight Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian pressures as food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty, climate shocks, displacement and declining aid converge. Without increased humanitarian support, vulnerable households could face further deterioration in access to food and essential services.
