Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Afghanistan malnutrition doubles as migrant returns strain communities
In Afghanistan, many people are not getting enough food to eat, and the problem is getting worse.
In the last three months, the number of children and families with malnutrition has doubled in many places.
One big reason is that almost six million Afghans have come back to the country from Pakistan and Iran, and many of them have nothing.
Half of the places that were checked said they had new people arriving, and most of those returnees got no help at all.
The country is also facing very high food prices, difficult weather like droughts and floods, and less help from outside.
A big study that talked to more than 12,000 people across 401 districts found that about 21.9 million Afghans—almost half the country—need assistance.
Many families are so short of money that they are selling their cows and goats just to survive.
Hospitals are struggling too, with most areas reporting shortages of medicines.
The United Nations and other groups say the gap between what people need and the help available is growing larger.
Malnutrition cases have doubled in the past three months in several surveyed areas of Afghanistan, with Panjshir, Faryab and Laghman recording the sharpest increases at 89, 85 and 83 per cent respectively.
The return of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan is placing further pressure on vulnerable communities, with half of surveyed areas reporting returnees and 57 per cent saying they received no humanitarian assistance.
A REACH assessment supported by the United Nations, conducted from May 10 to June 7 across 401 districts with 12,854 key informants, found rising food prices, economic hardship, climate shocks and declining aid worsening food insecurity.
An estimated 21.9 million people, nearly 45 per cent of Afghanistan's population, need humanitarian assistance, while food insecurity was reported as serious or very serious in 65 per cent of surveyed areas.
The UN World Food Programme reported that close to six million Afghans, mainly pushed back from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, have increased strain on Afghanistan's fragile economy.
Humanitarian assistance reached only 29 per cent of surveyed areas in the previous three months, down from 37 per cent in March, highlighting a widening gap between needs and available aid.
- Who
- Afghanistan's vulnerable communities, returnee migrants from Pakistan and Iran, the REACH assessment (supported by the UN), and the UN World Food Programme, including WFP Country Director John Aylieff.
- What
- Malnutrition cases have doubled in three months amid food insecurity, economic hardship, climate shocks, and the return of millions of Afghan migrants, with humanitarian assistance declining.
- When
- Assessment conducted from May 10 to June 7; report published on a Saturday; returnees arriving since September 2023.
- Where
- Afghanistan, with sharpest malnutrition increases in Panjshir, Faryab and Laghman; the WFP briefing was given from Kabul to journalists in Geneva.
- Why
- Rising food prices, economic hardship, climate shocks, declining humanitarian assistance, and the forced return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran are worsening food insecurity and increasing pressure on vulnerable households.
- Malnutrition increase
- Cases doubled in past three months in several surveyed areas; sharpest increases in Panjshir (89%), Faryab (85%) and Laghman (83%)
- People needing assistance
- 21.9 million, nearly 45% of Afghanistan's population
- Assessment details
- REACH assessment, May 10 to June 7, across 401 districts, based on 12,854 key informants
- Returnees
- Close to six million Afghans pushed back mainly from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023
- Humanitarian assistance coverage
- Only 29% of surveyed areas received assistance in previous three months, down from 37% in March
- Healthcare access
- 77% of areas reported shortages of medicines and medical equipment; 59% reported treatment costs unaffordable
- Climate shocks
- Drought a contributing factor to displacement in 40% of areas; 15% faced flood damage
- Household coping
- 87% of areas reported an increase in households selling livestock due to insufficient income or food