Children across Afghanistan are increasingly vulnerable to disease and illness due to a deadly combination of rising malnutrition, an unprecedented food crisis, drought, disruptions to vital health and nutrition services, lack of access to and poor quality of water and sanitation services — and crippling winter weather.
Rising unemployment leaves families with no income to buy food or fuel. More than half the population — 23 million — face acute hunger, with nearly 9 million one step away from famine, according to the World Food Program, a UNICEF partner agency. The UN Development Program, another agency partner, has warned that 97 percent of the population could plunge into poverty by midyear.
Up to 1 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of death from malnutrition, UNICEF warns
UNICEF estimates that 1 in 2 children under age 5 in Afghanistan will end up acutely malnourished by the end of the year due to the country's food crisis and poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene services — and that up to 1 million children under age 5 could die.
As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, outbreaks of life-threatening diseases are also putting children’s lives at risk. As many as 66,000 cases of measles were reported in 2021, amid outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea, malaria and dengue fever. Four cases of wild poliovirus were confirmed (Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last two polio-endemic countries).
Severe winter conditions — including temperatures well below freezing — increase the risk of pneumonia and respiratory illness as families struggle to heat homes and keep children warm
Severe winter weather conditions, with temperatures already well below freezing in many areas, increase the risk of pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) as families struggle to heat their homes and keep their children warm. Children living in high altitude regions are especially vulnerable and require urgent lifesaving assistance, including winter clothing, blankets and fuel for heating.
Over one-quarter of all deaths of children under age 5 are due to respiratory tract infections, with 90 percent of these deaths due to pneumonia. Malnourished children are more likely to get sick and take longer to recover.