OCHA: Millions of Afghan Children Face Severe Malnutrition Crisis in 2026

DID Press: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis could leave 3.7 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2026.

According to the report, malnutrition indicators are rising across 26 provinces, with 12 already classified as entering a critical phase.

OCHA said the situation is being driven by persistent economic hardship, limited access to healthcare, repeated droughts, and shrinking funding for humanitarian operations, all of which are expected to deepen the crisis in the coming months.

The UN agency projected that millions of children will face severe malnutrition next year, reflecting a significant deterioration compared with previous years and highlighting the extreme vulnerability of children to worsening living conditions.

The report also noted that nearly 40 percent of infants under six months require medical care due to malnutrition-related complications, weakened immunity, and poor sanitary conditions.

Health experts warn that early-life malnutrition can have long-term consequences on both physical growth and cognitive development.

OCHA further cautioned that funding shortages are disrupting humanitarian programs, with many health and nutrition centers across Afghanistan at risk of scaling back or halting services.