The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of the ongoing food crisis in Afghanistan, stating that two-thirds of families headed by women in the country are unable to afford food.
In a newly released report, WFP said that 4.6 million mothers and children in Afghanistan are suffering from malnutrition.
The programme further stressed that, as food insecurity remains at critical levels, malnutrition continues to rise.
According to WFP’s latest data, this year 3.5 million children under the age of five and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers have become malnourished and will require lifesaving treatment.
The report noted that women and girls in Afghanistan are in the greatest need of WFP assistance.
WFP stated that despite restrictions on education, work, and freedoms, women and girls continue to visit WFP centres to receive lifesaving food and nutrition assistance; however, due to funding shortages, malnourished mothers and children are being deprived of aid.
The agency emphasized that it requires 650 million USD to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable until the end of 2025.
The United Nations had earlier warned that with worsening malnutrition among women and children, Afghanistan is among the 15 countries with the highest rates of child malnutrition, with four in every ten women facing malnutrition.
The worsening hunger crisis and the resulting malnutrition have raised alarms for millions in need across Afghanistan. The UN has warned that about one-third of the Afghan population requires food aid and 3.1 million people are on the brink of famine.
Following the suspension of U.S. funding and the reduction of humanitarian assistance from other countries, UN agencies have repeatedly warned of rising malnutrition in Afghanistan.
