Crisis of Malnutrition Grips Afghan Women and Children

Despite having around 159 health facilities—including hospitals and clinics—much of Helmand Province’s population still lacks access to essential healthcare. Malnutrition remains a critical crisis across Afghanistan, with millions, particularly children and pregnant women, suffering from food insecurity and inadequate medical support. Photo collected.

Bibi Gul, a pregnant woman from Marja District in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province, recently walked two hours under the scorching sun to reach the nearest health centre. She was seeking treatment for moderate malnutrition—a condition that not only affects her but poses a serious threat to the life and health of her unborn child.

“Our economic situation is not very bad,” she said quietly upon arrival. “But the doctors told me that if I don’t treat this malnutrition or eat nutritious food during pregnancy, my baby will also suffer. Still, it’s not something we talk about at home.”

Her story is all too common in Afghanistan, where hunger continues to devastate lives—especially those of women and children. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), 15 million Afghans are in urgent need of food assistance. Yet the agency is facing critical funding shortfalls, leaving vulnerable populations increasingly exposed to the effects of food insecurity.

In Helmand—Afghanistan’s second-largest province and one of the most food-insecure regions—the problem is particularly acute. With over 1.5 million people relying mostly on small-scale farming, the province has long grappled with poor infrastructure, limited access to healthcare, and weak public health education systems. These factors have collectively compounded the malnutrition crisis.

Dr. Esmatullah, a provincial health inspector, has been working to combat malnutrition in Helmand for the past five years. “Ignorance is a major issue,” he explains. “Most pregnant women don’t know what foods they need, and often their husbands don’t allow them to seek medical care, even if a clinic is nearby.”

The latest health data reveals that one in four children in Helmand suffers from moderate to severe acute malnutrition, while 40 percent of pregnant and lactating women are moderately malnourished. The reasons range from recurring food shortages and poverty to infectious diseases and a lack of awareness about basic nutritional needs.

Compounding the problem is a severe shortage of trained nutrition staff. Though Helmand has around 2,500 healthcare workers, only 310 are dedicated to nutritional services. A recent provincial study found that only about 10 children and eight women per day receive nutritional support in Helmand's clinics—far short of the real demand.

The situation is dire, according to the World Health Organization’s thresholds. Helmand’s Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children under five stands at 18 percent, well above the WHO’s emergency threshold of 15 percent.

Despite these limitations, health officials are doing what they can with limited resources. In the Gereshk district of Helmand, Dr. Madina works in the maternal and child nutrition department. Her clinic runs nutrition management programmes for both moderate and severe acute malnutrition.

“We distribute ready-to-use therapeutic food to treat children under five and fortified super cereals to support pregnant and breastfeeding mothers,” Dr. Madina explains. “We also run awareness sessions to educate women about the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood.”

But the needs far exceed the supply. “It’s heartbreaking when women come from faraway villages carrying weak and underweight children in their arms, hoping for help,” she adds. “Often, we have to turn them away or give less than they need due to shortages.”

Experts agree that a long-term solution requires multi-sectoral cooperation and comprehensive policy implementation. Tackling malnutrition in Afghanistan is not merely a matter of providing food—it also means educating families, improving access to healthcare, enhancing agricultural productivity, and empowering women to take charge of their own well-being.

Dr. Esmatullah emphasises the need for stronger collaboration between international donors, NGOs, local health authorities, and community leaders.

“Nutrition is not just a health issue—it’s tied to poverty, education, gender, and agriculture,” he says. “We need to act across all these areas if we want to see real progress.”

Until then, the likes of Bibi Gul—and millions like her across Afghanistan—will continue to bear the burden of a crisis that demands global attention, sustained support, and urgent action.