UN WFP says malnutrition crisis in 12 Afghan provinces

The United Nations World Food Programme warned on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, that a severe child malnutrition crisis is spiraling out of control in Afghanistan, with funding shortfalls forcing aid workers to turn away the vast majority of those in desperate need. The agency said critical levels of child wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition, have now been recorded in 12 provinces, the highest number ever.

John Aylieff, the WFP's country director in Afghanistan, described a bleak situation where health clinics are haunted by the feeble cries of malnourished babies, with many children arriving for treatment too late to be saved. He stated that the crisis is worsening daily and tragically remains uncontained. Children under the age of two account for 80 percent of the most severe cases.

The surge in malnutrition is driven by a combination of conflict, widespread unemployment, rising food prices, and severe disruptions to humanitarian aid. Aylieff noted that staple food prices have risen by 20 to 30 percent, while nearly 14 million Afghans are facing acute hunger. Although this year brought a better harvest, its benefits have been completely offset by economic pressures, mass...