Maternal and Child Malnutrition in Afghanistan – The Borgen Project

Report on Acute Food Insecurity and Malnutrition in Afghanistan

Executive Summary

Afghanistan is experiencing a severe food security crisis, with over 15 million people facing acute food insecurity. This situation disproportionately affects women and children, placing the nation in direct opposition to several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The crisis is driven by a combination of economic fragility, environmental disasters, sociopolitical turmoil, and a collapsing health care system, all of which have been exacerbated since the political transition in 2021. This report analyzes the causes and consequences of the crisis and reviews current humanitarian interventions aimed at mitigating its impact.

Analysis of the Food Security Crisis and its Impact on SDGs

Current State of Malnutrition

The nutritional status of the Afghan population, particularly children, has deteriorated to critical levels, representing a significant failure to meet global development targets. The crisis is characterized by:

• One of the highest recorded increases in child malnutrition at the start of the year.
• Only 12% of children aged 6 to 24 months receiving a diet of adequate quantity and quality.
• Nearly 50% of all Afghan children suffering from stunting due to poor nutrition.

These statistics illustrate a profound challenge to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), specifically Target 2.2, which aims to end all forms of malnutrition by 2025.

Disproportionate Impact on Women and Children

The food crisis has a distinct gendered dimension, widening the food access gap and undermining SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Women and girls are the most severely affected, creating an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition that also compromises SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). When maternal nutrition is inadequate, the health and developmental potential of infants are severely compromised.

Causal Factors Undermining Sustainable Development

Economic and Environmental Pressures

The crisis is rooted in multifaceted challenges that hinder progress toward sustainable development.

1. Economic Fragility: Pervasive poverty prevents access to essential health care and nutritious food, directly impeding progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty).
2. Environmental Disasters: With approximately 80% of the population reliant on agriculture, environmental instability leads to lost harvests and empty markets. This highlights the intersection of food security and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Sociopolitical Barriers and Systemic Failures

The current political environment has erected significant barriers to health and nutrition, particularly for women, in direct conflict with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

• Restrictions on women’s education and mobility severely curtail their access to health care and nutritional information.
• The requirement for a male escort prevents many women from seeking pre- and postnatal care.
• The systematic erosion of female autonomy has disastrous consequences for maternal and child health.

Collapse of Health Care and International Partnerships

Afghanistan’s health care system, highly dependent on foreign aid, has been crippled by the cessation of funding following the 2021 political change. This breakdown in international cooperation undermines SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and has had a catastrophic effect on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The halt in aid has eliminated preventative care and education programs, with John Aylieff of the World Food Programme (WFP) noting that the subsequent rise in malnutrition has placed over three million children’s lives in peril.

Consequences for Maternal and Child Health

The Intergenerational Cycle of Malnutrition

The crisis perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of poor health and inequality. A report from Johns Hopkins University, “The Crisis of Maternal and Child Health in Afghanistan,” indicates that one-third of health professionals perceive an increase in both infant and maternal mortality since the Taliban takeover. This regression marks a severe setback for SDG 3.1 (reduce maternal mortality) and SDG 3.2 (end preventable deaths of newborns and children).

Evidence of Escalating Mortality

Field observations confirm the devastating human cost. Journalists visiting the Sheidaee graveyard found that approximately two-thirds of unrecorded graves belonged to children. At Badakhshan Regional Hospital, the malnutrition ward was overwhelmed, with 26 children sharing 12 beds, illustrating the health system’s inability to cope.

Humanitarian Interventions and Strategic Outlook

Current Efforts to Address the Crisis

In response, humanitarian organizations are shifting toward community-based prevention. In August, UNICEF and the WFP launched a joint action plan to combat child wasting. This initiative aligns with multiple SDGs by focusing on:

• Reinforcing the importance of maternal nutrition to break the intergenerational cycle (SDG 3, SDG 5).
• Promoting local food solutions and nutrition education (SDG 2).
• Converging community-based services for greater impact.
• Offering skills training and livelihood programs for women through the WFP to foster economic independence (SDG 1, SDG 5).

Conclusion and Recommendations

While significant efforts are underway, they are threatened by persistent funding cuts. As stated by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, “When a girl or woman does not get adequate nutrition, gender inequality is perpetuated.” A well-balanced diet is fundamental to child survival and development. Therefore, sustained and reliable international support is integral to restoring progress toward SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) in Afghanistan. Directing life-saving aid to the most vulnerable populations must remain a global priority.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article’s central theme is the food crisis in Afghanistan. It explicitly mentions that “more than 15 million people in Afghanistan experiencing acute food insecurity” and details the “soaring rates of malnutrition,” particularly affecting women and children. The discussion on lost harvests due to environmental disasters and empty markets directly relates to food availability and access, which are core components of SDG 2.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article extensively discusses the devastating health consequences of the crisis. It highlights that Afghanistan is “among the most dangerous countries for babies, children and mothers,” with a healthcare system on the brink of collapse due to the withdrawal of foreign aid. Specific issues mentioned include increased “infant and maternal mortality,” lack of access to “pre- and postnatal care,” and overcrowded malnutrition wards, all of which are central to the goals of SDG 3.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article emphasizes the “deeply gendered dimension” of the food crisis. It details how “women are disproportionately affected” and how “Taliban restrictions on women’s education and mobility have severely curtailed their access to care.” The “systematic stripping of women’s autonomy,” such as the requirement of a male escort to travel, directly hinders their ability to seek healthcare and nutrition, perpetuating gender inequality, a key focus of SDG 5.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article’s focus on “15 million people in Afghanistan experiencing acute food insecurity” directly addresses this target.
   • Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons. This is directly relevant, as the article reports that “nearly half of all Afghan children are stunted” and highlights the disastrous consequences of malnutrition for “pregnant women, mothers and their children.”
2. Targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
   • Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. The article points to a worsening situation, with health professionals perceiving that “maternal mortality have increased” due to lack of access to care.
   • Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The article’s mention of rising “child mortality,” the high number of children’s graves, and the death of the infant patient Sana directly relate to this target.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. The article describes how access to healthcare is “beyond reach for many” and that women “do not come to clinics for lack of money,” indicating a failure to achieve this target.
3. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The “Taliban restrictions on women’s education and mobility” and the rule that women are “unable to travel without being escorted by a male relative” are clear examples of systematic discrimination that this target aims to eliminate.
   • Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. The article shows this is not being met, as restrictions on mobility and poverty hinder women’s access to essential “pre- and postnatal care.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)
   • Prevalence of undernourishment: “More than 15 million people in Afghanistan experiencing acute food insecurity.”
   • Prevalence of malnutrition (stunting): “Nearly half of all Afghan children are stunted due to limited diets.”
   • Indicator of minimum dietary diversity: “Only 12% of children aged 6 to 24 months receiving adequate quantities and quality of food.”
2. Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
   • Maternal mortality ratio: The perception by health professionals that “maternal mortality have increased” serves as a qualitative indicator of a negative trend.
   • Under-5 mortality rate: The article points to a rise in “child mortality,” supported by anecdotal evidence from the Sheidaee graveyard where “roughly two-thirds [of graves] belonged to children.”
   • Health service capacity: The description of the malnutrition ward at Badakhshan Regional Hospital, where “26 children shared 12 beds,” is an indicator of a severely strained healthcare system.
3. Indicators for SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
   • Existence of legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor equality and non‑discrimination on the basis of sex: The article provides evidence of the opposite, citing “Taliban restrictions on women’s education and mobility” and the “systematic stripping of women’s autonomy” as policies that enforce discrimination.
   • Gender gap in food access: The statement that the “gender gap in food access continues to widen” is a direct indicator of growing inequality.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org