Over 4 Million Afghan Children Projected to Need Malnutrition Treatment in 2027

KABUL — More than 4 million children in Afghanistan are projected to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2027, marking the highest figure in five years, according to an alert issued on 13 October 2026 by UNICEF and Action Against Hunger.

The forecast, derived from the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) for Acute Malnutrition released by the Afghanistan Nutrition Cluster, indicates a worsening outlook. The number of provinces experiencing critical malnutrition levels is projected to rise to 14 in 2027—more than one-third of the country's provinces—up from 10 in 2026 and seven in 2025. The projected increase is attributed to seasonal patterns and an anticipated funding cliff that threatens both preventive nutrition services and ongoing treatment programs.

According to the IPC analysis, severe acute malnutrition is expanding rapidly, with an estimated 1.09 million children expected to be affected in 2027, representing a 16 percent increase compared to 2026. An additional 3 million children are projected to suffer from moderate acute malnutrition. Furthermore, approximately 1.3 million pregnant or breastfeeding women are expected to experience malnutrition over the same period.

The humanitarian organizations identified several factors contributing to the crisis. Currently, only one in three children aged 6 to 24 months receives the necessary dietary variety for healthy development, while nearly half of Afghan households face challenges accessing safe water. These conditions are compounded by recurrent outbreaks of preventable illnesses, such as measles and acute watery diarrhoea, alongside cross-border disruptions that have hindered the supply chain for essential nutrition commodities.

Southern Afghanistan, including provinces such as Helmand, continues to report some of the highest rates of acute malnutrition, where regional demand has outstripped available service capacity.

The Nutrition Cluster warned that without immediate and predictable funding for health, nutrition, water, and sanitation services, the crisis is likely to escalate further, increasing risks of illness, developmental delays, and mortality among vulnerable populations.

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