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Afghanistan’s deepening malnutrition crisis is pushing mothers and children to the brink, the UN World Food Programme has warned, as mass returns from neighbouring countries and severe funding shortfalls overwhelm already strained humanitarian operations.
“WFP has been sounding alarm bells for months,” Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director, said at the end of a recent visit to the country.
“This week I met malnourished mothers and children who travelled for over two hours to reach a WFP-supported clinic in Hisar Shahi camp, only to be turned away because we have no nutritious supplements left to give them,” he continued.
“What I saw in eastern Afghanistan is happening across the country and it is heartbreaking and totally unacceptable.”
Near-record malnutrition rates
Afghanistan is already facing near-record levels of malnutrition, with nearly five million mothers and children affected. Pressures are mounting: the closure of the border with Pakistan, repeated floods and earthquakes, and a steep drop in humanitarian funding.
Amid the humanitarian crisis, there are also concerns over human rights and press freedom as the de facto Taliban authorities detained at least three journalists this week on unspecified charges.
Middle East crisis spillover
Soaring global fuel prices and disrupted supply routes from the Middle East conflict are pushing WFP’s already underfunded operations in Afghanistan to the brink.
This comes as an additional 500,000 people have returned from Pakistan and Iran so far this year, adding to the nearly 2.8 million people who returned last year, with families moving into host communities who are themselves struggling.
“We are also seeing vulnerable families crossing the border from Pakistan in growing numbers; many of them coming to a country where they know no one, have no place to go and have no idea where their next meal will come from,” Mr. Skau said.
“I met single mothers and families with young babies – all of whom crossed with nothing more than what they can carry. They need food, shelter, safety and immediate support.”
Urgent support
WFP has been opening new supply corridors, targeting the most vulnerable people and working closely with other UN agencies and partners.
But without urgent donor support and expedited clearance of humanitarian supplies, “these extraordinary efforts will fall desperately short of preventing a humanitarian disaster for millions of mothers and children,” Mr. Skau warned.
WFP urgently needs $350 million for the next six months for its life-saving operations in Afghanistan.
Detention of journalists
The worsening humanitarian situation comes amid broader concerns over rights and civic freedoms in Afghanistan.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed “serious concern” over the detentions of at least three journalists in recent days by the de facto authorities on unspecified charges.
These incidents come against the backdrop of continued reports of threats and assaults against several journalists and confiscation of their property during search operations by the de facto authorities.
In a statement on Thursday, UNAMA asked that legal basis and any charges against the detained journalists be clarified, and for due process rights to be respected at all times.
A free, independent and safe press is essential for transparency, accountability and the well-being of Afghan society, the Mission said.