disaster
Afghanistan: Alarming increase in admissions of severely malnourished children in south
By Médecins Sans Frontières at ReliefWeb
· June 25, 2026
· 4 min read
. Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 June 2026 - Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications requiring lifesaving treatment in its therapeutic feeding centres in southern A
Key takeaway “Children are reaching us far too late in the process, and they often present in a critical condition with preventable medical complications,” says Ana Lilia Banda, MSF medical coordinator in southern Afghanistan.
Why this matters
The alarming increase in severely malnourished children in southern Afghanistan highlights the devastating consequences of a deteriorating food security situation, exacerbated by significant reductions in international funding and recurrent droughts. The suspension or closure of health facilities and mobile health teams has crippled community-based screening and early detection services, allowing malnutrition to go unchecked until it reaches a critical stage. The disruption of therapeutic food supplies due to border closures has further worsened the situation, making it essential for organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières to receive urgent funding and resources to provide nutrition support. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is crucial for the international community to prioritize support for nutrition services in Afghanistan, particularly for vulnerable populations like children under one year old, who are disproportionately affected by the crisis. Restoring a full range of malnutrition services is critical to preventing avoidable deaths and addressing the worsening humanitarian situation.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 June 2026 - Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications requiring lifesaving treatment in its therapeutic feeding centres in southern A
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Médecins Sans Frontières at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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