Kathmandu— Nearly one in ten children under five in Afghanistan is now suffering from acute malnutrition, according to new findings from Save the Children, as essential health services close due to plummeting humanitarian aid. The number of at-risk children has surged by 14 percent over the past four years, currently affecting 3.7 million, with levels worsening in two-thirds of provinces during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year. This crisis is driven by a dramatic decrease in international funding following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 and complicated by increased population pressures from returning refugees and internal displacement.

Rising Malnutrition Rates

Save the Children reports that United Nations figures indicate a growing trend of malnutrition among young children in Afghanistan. Acute malnourishment, also known as wasting, is a life-threatening condition characterized by dangerous weight loss for a child’s height, resulting from insufficient food intake or severe illness. The agency notes that levels of acute malnutrition have worsened in two-thirds of Afghan provinces during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

Humanitarian Aid Shortfall

The surge in child malnourishment is largely attributed to a significant reduction in humanitarian aid reaching Afghanistan. Over the past four years, funding has fallen by almost 70 percent – from $3.27 billion in 2022 to $1 billion in 2025. As of mid-2026, only $438 million in aid has been secured, leaving a substantial 74 percent funding gap. This decrease has forced approximately 600 essential healthcare facilities to close, impacting around 4 million people—half of whom are children—who previously relied on these services.

Factors Contributing to the Crisis

Beyond reduced aid, Afghanistan’s population has increased by 12 percent since September 2023 due to the return of over six million Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. Both countries have tightened conditions for Afghan refugees, leading to increased deportations. Ashish Damle, Save the Children's country director in Afghanistan, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The world cannot look away. Severe hunger, the staggering number of returnees and mass internal displacement due to disasters, recent conflict and four years of drought are stretching limited humanitarian resources to the brink.”

Impact of Taliban Governance

The decline in aid is largely linked to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, prompting international donors to limit or redirect funding and impose stricter conditions. The Taliban ban on female humanitarian staff has further restricted aid delivery to women and children. Prior to 2021, the US was Afghanistan's largest donor; however, since the takeover, most US aid is now channeled through organizations like the UN and NGOs, representing a fraction of pre-2021 levels. The European Union and World Bank have also scaled back large reconstruction projects, shifting towards smaller emergency programs delivered via NGOs.

Save the Children continues to operate 14 health clinics in Afghanistan and is currently the sole provider of healthcare for 10,000 people in remote northern regions, but warns that sustained international support is crucial to prevent further deterioration of the crisis.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.