In the harsh landscape of Afghanistan, a heartbreaking reality unfolds as families grapple with a silent epidemic of malnutrition. Ghulam Mohiddin and his wife Nazo recount the tragic loss of their three young sons—Rahmat, Koatan, and Faisal Ahmad—all victims of starvation. Their story is a stark illustration of the widespread suffering, with graves in their local graveyard bearing silent testament to the scale of the crisis, as two-thirds of the plots are for children.
Families like Ghulam and Nazo’s are left with little to no support, surviving by breaking walnut shells and facing days without food. The international aid community, including the World Food Programme (WFP), is struggling to cope with a drastic reduction in funding. John Aylieff, the WFP’s country director, highlights the dire situation, stating that three million children are now in peril as food assistance has been significantly cut. This crisis is compounded by a severe drought and the return of millions of Afghans from neighboring countries, further straining resources.
The Taliban government, meanwhile, attributes the crisis to international sanctions and aid cuts, asserting that they are doing what they can within their limited budget, which is affected by sanctions. However, their stance on women’s rights, including a recent ban on women working for NGOs, is also hindering humanitarian efforts and the prospect of international recognition.
The devastating consequences are visible in the country’s hospitals. At the Badakhshan regional hospital, a ward designed for 12 children is accommodating 26, many suffering from severe malnutrition and other illnesses. Tragically, infants like three-month-old Sana, five-month-old Musleha, and twins Mutehara and Maziyan, all succumbed to their conditions shortly after being documented. Their mothers, like Zamira and Karima, express despair and guilt, unable to provide adequate nutrition for their children, with some resorting to giving them medication to ease their hunger and sleep.
The WFP warns that their humanitarian funding will expire in November, and without further financial injections, they will be forced to turn away malnourished children and women. As winter approaches, the urgency to address this escalating humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan cannot be overstated.