Child Malnutrition Surges in Afghanistan: WFP Urges $539 Million for Food Aid Amid US Funding Cuts and Climate Crisis

In Afghanistan, a record spike in child malnutrition has been reported by the World Food Program (WFP), urgently appealing for $539 million to aid the nation’s most susceptible families.

Nearly 10 million individuals, representing a quarter of Afghanistan’s population, are now grappling with acute food insecurity. One out of every three children is stunted due to malnutrition.

The escalation in child malnutrition has been linked by the WFP to a reduction in emergency food assistance over the past two years, attributed mainly to diminishing donor support. The current administration of U.S. President Donald Trump halted food aid to Afghanistan, one of the world’s poorest nations, in April.

Historically, the United States has been the largest contributor to the WFP, donating $4.5 billion out of the total $9.8 billion in contributions last year. Previous U.S. administrations viewed such aid as essential for national security due to its role in alleviating conflict, poverty, extremism, and limiting migration.

The food crisis in Afghanistan is exacerbated by mass migrations from neighboring countries, which are deporting foreigners they deem reside there illegally. Over the past two months, the WFP has supported 60,000 Afghans returning from Iran, a mere fraction of those crossing the border.

Ziauddin Safi, Communications Officer at the WFP, stated that, moving forward, the agency lacks sufficient funding to cater to the returnee response and requires $15 million to assist all eligible returnees from Iran. The organization is seeking $539 million in total through January to support vulnerable families across Afghanistan.

Climate change further aggravates the situation, particularly affecting rural communities. According to Matiullah Khalis, head of the National Environmental Protection Agency, drought, water scarcity, decreasing arable land, and flash floods are inflicting a significant impact on people’s livelihoods and the economy.