The ongoing economic challenges faced by many families in Afghanistan have led to a growing malnutrition crisis among children and mothers.

Numerous families report being unable to provide proper nutrition for their children.

Sayed Shah, a father who cannot afford treatment for his children, told TOLOnews: "These two children are suffering from malnutrition; I treated one of them for two years, and for the past year, I’ve been treating the other. They are also afflicted with other illnesses. I call on the government and the public to help me with my children's treatment."

Meanwhile, UNICEF has reported that in the first three months of the current year, it has provided medical services to more than 1.527 million children and breastfeeding mothers in Afghanistan. The United Nations Children's Fund also noted that during this period, over 246,000 children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition were referred to treatment programs.

Dr. Ahmad Shaqib Zaheer, a physician in Kabul, told TOLOnews: "It is essential to identify the root causes of malnutrition. Since this disease is prevalent in poor countries, it is necessary to improve the economic, political, and cultural conditions of such societies. Alongside that, maintaining a proper diet is crucial — our food must include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins."

Previously, the World Food Programme (WFP) projected that by 2025, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan would suffer from malnutrition. 

According to WFP statistics, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in the country are currently suffering from malnutrition and are in urgent need of medical treatment and nutritional support.