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Kabul: The number of acutely malnourished children in Afghanistan is on the rise, with nearly one in ten children under five suffering from wasting. This alarming trend coincides with a drastic reduction in funding that is leading to the closure of essential health services, threatening the progress made in recent years, Save the Children reported.
According to Save the Children, levels of wasting in Afghan children have worsened in two-thirds of the provinces during the second quarter of 2026, compared to the same period last year. The current surge in cases is largely driven by an increase in infectious diseases. This period marks the peak season for malnutrition in Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban control for the past five years.
Over the last four years, there has been a 14% rise in acute malnutrition among children under five, affecting 3.7 million children in 2026. During this same timeframe, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has plummeted by nearly 70%, from $3.27 billion in 2022 to $1 billion in 2025, with only $438 million secured so far in 2026, representing a 74% funding gap.
The funding cuts have led to the closure or suspension of nearly 600 health facilities, affecting approximately four million people, half of whom are children. Save the Children has managed to keep 14 health clinics operational with short-term funding, providing essential services in remote areas of the country, but their future remains uncertain.
In a remote area of northern Afghanistan, Save the Children operates the only healthcare facility for 10,000 people. The clinic sees over 100 patients daily, many of whom travel for hours on foot to receive medical attention. With transport options limited and costly, the closure of the clinic would force residents to walk seven hours for medical treatment.
Sama, a local resident, relies on the free clinic for her family. Her nine-month-old son Mustafa was diagnosed with malnutrition and received treatment there. His condition has since stabilized. Without treatment, acute malnutrition can be life-threatening, but with proper care, recovery is possible.
Marva, a nutrition nurse at the clinic, highlighted the challenges faced by the community before the clinic was established. Many residents could not afford treatment costs, and harsh winters often made roads impassable, cutting off access to essential healthcare.
Since early 2025, about 700,000 individuals, including 140,000 children under five, have lost access to primary health services due to the closure or scaling down of health facilities and mobile health teams supported by Save the Children.
Afghanistan’s population has grown by 12% since September 2023, exacerbating the demand for humanitarian aid. Over six million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan, further straining limited resources.
Ashish Damle, Save the Children’s Country Director in Afghanistan, emphasized the dire situation. Severe hunger, mass displacement, and economic challenges are overwhelming the already stretched humanitarian resources. Damle urged the international community to act proactively to protect the lives and futures of Afghan children.
Save the Children has been present in Afghanistan since 1976, operating through numerous crises. The organization currently runs programs in nine provinces and collaborates with partners across 11 additional provinces, delivering essential services in health, nutrition, education, and more. Last year, they reached over two million people, with nearly 5,000 children successfully treated for severe acute malnutrition.