The United Nations has issued a grave warning about Afghanistan’s escalating hunger emergency, revealing that 1.7 million children are now at risk of death due to severe malnutrition. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the situation as “shocking,” stressing that the country is facing one of the worst child-nutrition crises in the world.

Speaking at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Wednesday, Fletcher said food insecurity has significantly worsened as winter sets in, particularly after several life-saving food distribution programmes were suspended. According to him, 1.1 million Afghan children no longer have access to essential humanitarian assistance, pushing them into extreme vulnerability.

Fletcher highlighted that 303 nutrition service centres have shut down due to acute funding shortages, directly restricting life-saving emergency care for malnourished children. The closures, he warned, could push many more children into life-threatening conditions if urgent global support is not mobilised.

He underscored that operational restrictions imposed by the Taliban—especially those barring women from working in UN offices—are severely hampering relief efforts. Fletcher called these limitations “unacceptable,” arguing that without women humanitarian workers, aid groups cannot effectively reach women and children in need. He reiterated that lifting restrictions on women and girls is critical for aid operations to function properly.

The UN official urged the international community to step up with additional funding and support, warning that any further delays could cost countless young lives.

Afghanistan’s hunger crisis has deepened rapidly in recent months. On December 7, the World Food Programme (WFP) issued its own alert, cautioning that hunger levels in the country are rising at an “alarming rate” as freezing temperatures approach.

In its statement, the WFP warned that malnutrition among Afghan children and women could reach levels “not seen in recent years”. WFP Executive Director Carl Skau said the agency has been forced to scale back food assistance from 10 million people to just 2 million due to shrinking donor funds. The drastic reduction has left millions exposed to hunger, cold and disease, particularly families living in remote mountainous regions.

Skau stated that many children could face life-threatening complications or death due to severe malnutrition compounded by harsh winter conditions. The agency also noted that the crisis persists despite repeated warnings from humanitarian organisations.

The UN estimates that 3.5 million Afghan children under the age of five already suffer from acute malnutrition, making Afghanistan one of the world’s most food-insecure nations. Years of drought, economic collapse, reduced international aid, and restrictions on humanitarian access have severely undermined efforts to stabilise the situation.

Humanitarian workers on the ground say the need for urgent funding is critical. Without immediate intervention, Afghanistan risks facing a catastrophic winter that could claim the lives of thousands of vulnerable children.