Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children suffer from severe malnutrition says UNICEF

KABUL: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stated that Afghanistan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises regarding child malnutrition, with approximately 3.7 million children suffering from severe malnutrition each year in the country. During the introduction of the “Revised Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Severe Malnutrition,” UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, Tajuddin Ouyala, emphasized the urgent need to address this crisis. He noted that the new version of these guidelines introduced significant changes in treatment and prevention strategies, focusing on life-saving treatments for the most severe cases. The guidelines also strengthen family-based nutrition strategies, enhance the role of local communities, and, for the first time, present care guidelines for children under six months of age to take a crucial step toward reducing child malnutrition and saving their lives.