KABUL (SW) – The Save the Children Organization warns that over eight million children in Afghanistan will confront heightened levels of hunger in 2024.
The organization attributes this crisis to the cold weather and drought in Afghanistan, estimating that approximately eight million Afghan children, or one in three, will experience emergency levels of hunger.
“One in three children in Afghanistan will go into 2024 in crisis or emergency levels of hunger as winter bites.”
In its latest report, the Save the Children organization noted an improvement compared to last year. However, it estimates that 15.8 million Afghans will still face food insecurity next year.
The Save the Children Organization’s report, was published on Thursday, December 14, on its website, emphasizes the need for Afghanistan to ensure living facilities for its citizens returning from neighboring countries.
According to Ershad Malik, director of Save the Children Organization in Afghanistan, the report said: “The New Year comes at a time when 7.8 million children do not have enough food. Hunger and cold weather have created a dangerous situation for children in many areas of Afghanistan. Their needs must be met and budget cuts are putting lives at risk every day.”
According to this organization, 460,000 Afghans have been forcibly expelled from Pakistan since September, and 345,000 Afghans have been returned to Afghanistan from Iran.
Four million mothers, children in Afghanistan suffering from malnutrition
Four million mothers and children in Afghanistan are currently experiencing malnutrition, says the World Food Program (WFP).
The organization said that four million Afghan children and mothers, of which three million are only children, are suffering from malnutrition.
However, the officials of the Ministry of Public Health told Salam Watandar that compared to last year, the number of malnourished mothers and children has decreased this year..
Mohammad Wazir Hamid, director of the nutrition department of the Ministry of Public Health, said that this year, 875,000 children under the age of five are severely malnourished, 2.3 million are moderately malnourished, and 790,000 mothers are malnourished.
Last year, 1.1 million children under the age of five were severely malnourished, 2.2 million were moderately malnourished, and nearly one million mothers were also malnourished, according to Hamid.
Officials of the Ministry of Public Health, say that now 3200 health centers are operating all over the country and all patients suffering from malnutrition have access to treatment services.
ENDS
