Nearly 4 million Afghan children acutely malnourished amid funding cuts

Save the Children reports that a staggering one in ten children in Afghanistan are now experiencing severe health challenges as the country’s healthcare funding has sharply declined. The organization’s latest assessment, released this week, indicates that the reduction in financial support—stemming from waning international aid, persistent economic sanctions, and the ongoing political instability—has led to a 40 % drop in operational budgets for public health facilities across the nation since 2021. As a result, essential services such as routine immunizations, maternal‑child health programs, and treatment for malnutrition are being curtailed, leaving an estimated 1.2 million children without adequate medical care.

The funding shortfall also hampers the ability of health workers to maintain supply chains for medicines and vaccines, with many clinics reporting stock‑outs of antibiotics and essential nutrition supplements. Save the Children urges donor governments and humanitarian agencies to restore and increase contributions to prevent a further deterioration of child health outcomes, warning that continued under‑funding could push the child mortality rate above pre‑conflict levels. The organization emphasizes that sustained financial support is critical to preserving the fragile health infrastructure and safeguarding the wellbeing of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable population.