The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that food insecurity is rapidly becoming a widespread crisis in Afghanistan, with 2.9 million children under the age of five currently facing malnutrition.

The organisation further reported that 850,000 of these children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

On September 11, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that one-third of Afghanistan’s population lives in food-insecure regions, with floods and drought exacerbating the situation.

He noted that WHO health workers have treated 21,000 children with acute malnutrition in 140 health centres across Afghanistan, but stressed that the assistance provided is insufficient and that the children require further aid.

In a post on social media platform X, Tedros called on the international community to immediately support WHO and its partners in delivering essential healthcare and food aid.

Earlier, on Sunday, September 8, WHO had announced that it had sent around 20 tons of medicine and medical equipment to health centres in five northern provinces of Afghanistan. The supplies included kits for treating pneumonia, measles, cholera, and surgical and dressing sets.