The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that severe funding shortages are putting the lives of malnourished children in Afghanistan at increasing risk, with the agency currently holding only 12% of the funding it needs for its operations in the country.
John Ayliffe, WFP’s representative in Afghanistan, said children suffering from acute malnutrition were already dying as food assistance programmes face major reductions because of a lack of international funding.
“Children in Afghanistan are now dying as a result of aid cuts,” Ayliffe said, warning that the number of child deaths could increase in the coming months if additional funding is not secured.
The warning comes as Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian situation, with millions of people struggling to meet basic food needs. WFP has said funding shortages are forcing it and its partners to scale back life-saving food and nutrition programmes at a time when demand for assistance remains high.
Recent WFP figures cited by Reuters show that six out of seven malnourished children and mothers in need are being turned away from treatment because of severe funding shortages. Child wasting has reached critical levels in one-third of Afghanistan’s provinces, while children under two account for about 80% of the most severe cases.
The crisis has been compounded by rising food prices, economic hardship and the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries. Reuters reported that nearly 14 million Afghans are facing acute hunger, while food prices have increased significantly in some areas.
WFP has warned that the combination of reduced humanitarian funding and growing needs is leaving health and nutrition services unable to reach many vulnerable families. The agency has called for urgent international funding to prevent further deterioration.
The funding crisis comes after years of dependence on international humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, where widespread poverty, weak public services, economic pressures and repeated natural disasters continue to leave millions vulnerable to food insecurity.
Humanitarian agencies have warned that without sustained international support, reductions in food and nutrition assistance could reverse gains made in preventing and treating child malnutrition and leave more families without access to basic support.
