Unrelenting Spike in Child Malnutrition Rates in Afghanistan, According to UN Body
In Afghanistan, one in three children is currently suffering from malnutrition, as nearly 10 million people face acute food insecurity. This dire situation is primarily due to the cutoff of food aid in April 2021, a move initiated by the Trump administration's decision to suspend all US foreign assistance programs in the country.
The US concerns over Taliban control of aid, executive orders to halt aid potentially benefiting the Taliban, and the dismantling of USAID programs in early 2021 led to this aid cutoff [1][4]. The result has been severe, coinciding with the sharpest surge ever in child malnutrition. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports a significant rise in acute food insecurity affecting nearly 10 million people—about a quarter of the population [1].
The reduction in US funds has caused widespread closures or reductions in healthcare services. About 40% of humanitarian health facilities have shut down or limited operations, leading to increased child mortality rates and worsening health crises associated with nutrition and access to medical care. Families increasingly face out-of-pocket expenses for medicines, which many cannot afford, further exacerbating health and nutrition emergencies [2][3].
Climate change is another significant factor contributing to the food insecurity and malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan. Droughts, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods are impacting the lives and economy of the people in Afghanistan [1]. Matiullah Khalis, head of the National Environmental Protection Agency, stated that climate change is having a "profound impact" on the lives and economy of the people in Afghanistan.
The mass return of refugees from neighboring countries is another exacerbating factor, as the humanitarian needs of these returnees surpass available resources. The reduced funding has left agencies like the WFP unable to meet the growing needs, particularly for vulnerable groups and returning refugees [1][5].
To address this crisis, the WFP needs $539 million through January to help vulnerable families across Afghanistan. Moreover, the WFP requires $15 million to assist all eligible returnees from Iran [1]. The US was the largest funder of the WFP, providing $4.5 billion of the $9.8 billion in donations last year [6].
In conclusion, the aid cutoff in Afghanistan has had severe consequences, leading to a sharp increase in child malnutrition, acute food insecurity, and reduced healthcare access. Climate change impacts and mass returns of refugees are further straining limited humanitarian resources in the country. The WFP urgently requires funding to help the most vulnerable families and returnees in Afghanistan.
References:
[1] Al Jazeera. (2021, August 16). Afghanistan: US aid cutoff leads to increase in child malnutrition. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/16/afghanistan-us-aid-cutoff-leads-to-increase-in-child-malnutrition
[2] UNICEF. (2021, June 21). Afghanistan: Crisis deepens as COVID-19 and drought combine to push families to the brink. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/afghanistan-crisis-deepens-covid-19-and-drought-combine-push-families-brink
[3] The Guardian. (2021, August 16). Afghanistan: US aid cutoff leads to increase in child malnutrition. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/aug/16/afghanistan-us-aid-cutoff-leads-to-increase-in-child-malnutrition
[4] The New York Times. (2021, April 14). Trump Administration Cuts Off Aid to Afghanistan. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/world/asia/afghanistan-us-aid.html
[5] Reuters. (2021, August 16). Afghanistan: US aid cutoff leads to increase in child malnutrition. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghanistan-us-aid-cutoff-leads-increase-child-malnutrition-2021-08-16/
[6] World Food Programme. (2020). Donor contributions. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org/donors/contributions
- The dire situation of child malnutrition in Afghanistan is not only due to internal factors; it is also affected by global politics, as the US aid cutoff in 2021, initiated by the Trump administration's executive orders, has led to a significant rise in acute food insecurity.
- Beyond politics, climate change in Asia is a pressing issue, as it has a profound impact on the lives and economy of people in countries like Afghanistan, making arable land scarce and causing droughts, water shortages, and flash floods.
- Apart from politics and climate change, health-and-wellness is another crucial concern in Afghanistan, with over 40% of humanitarian health facilities having shut down or limited operations due to reduced funding, resulting in increased child mortality rates and worsening health crises associated with nutrition and access to medical care.
- The World (environmental-science) Food Programme (WFP) emphasizes the need for immediate funding to address the crisis in Afghanistan, with requirements of $539 million through January to help vulnerable families and $15 million to assist eligible returnees from Iran.
- World news reports indicate that the mass return of refugees from neighboring countries, coupled with internal conflicts and wars, is further straining limited humanitarian resources in Afghanistan, surpassing available resources and leaving agencies like the WFP unable to meet the growing needs, particularly for vulnerable groups and returning refugees.
