Malnutrition: The Hidden Struggle of Afghan Women and Children
Malnutrition: The Hidden Struggle of Afghan Women and Children
Arezu Fayyazi | April 23, 2024
In times of conflict, political instability, and social unrest, women and children have always been the ones who face the most dire consequences compared to the rest of the population. It is nearly three years since the Taliban returned to power and their extremist views and restricting edicts against Afghan women has been one of the major human rights crises. Afghan women’s rights are under constant attack by the Taliban. However, the silent struggle that Afghan women are facing on top of the restrictions on their rights and existence is food insecurity and malnutrition. Women are struggling to feed their children and themselves, leaving them all malnourished.
Currently, 15.5 million people are considered to be facing acute food insecurity, 2.7 million of which are in an emergency situation. In 2023, it is estimated that 1.2 million Afghan women were malnourished. According to the World Food Programme, this number is only expected to grow this year. The statistics for Afghan children are also supposed to grow this year, reaching 3 million malnourished children. Acute malnutrition is at a dire point for women and children as about 50% of children under five years of age and 25% of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers need nutritional support in the coming 12 months in order to survive.
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Afghanistan’s hunger and malnutrition crisis is often forgotten given the other wars around the world where famine and food crises are more visible. However, in addition to food insecurity, Afghanistan is one of the top 10 countries facing maternal and child mortality due to several reasons, including malnutrition. The health of women and children will continue to drastically decline unless sustainable interventions, such as allowing women to work and earn an income, are put in place to support families. The consequences of a malnourished population of women and children are severe. With malnourished children, the next generation of Afghanistan will face life-long health consequences, such as cognitive impairment, and will have far worse quality of life. The economy will suffer as well because of a lack of a qualified and educated workforce. The GDP will continue to face losses and the recovery will take even longer.
Importantly, when an expecting mother is malnourished, it is more likely that their child will be born of a low-birth weight. This opens a large possibility of future health concerns for the child, including increased risk of adult chronic disease, frequent infections, and reduced mental and physical capacity. Targeting malnutrition in Afghanistan and working to improve the nutrition of women and children must become as much of a priority as it has been in other parts of the world where there’s more visibility on food starvation. Targeting malnutrition means improving the health, physical growth, cognitive development, school performance, and productivity of Afghan women and children. By supporting the growth of a strong and prepared population of women and children, there is the potential to improve Afghanistan’s social and economic development in addition to the empowerment of women.
Sources: Ariana News, Khaama Press, Human Rights Watch, World Food Programme, Relief Web, UNSCN, UNICEF
https://feminist.org/news/malnutrition-the-hidden-struggle-of-afghan-women-and-children/
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who self-defected to Canada - just got another sister out of Afghanistan! Only 1 or 2 remaining now.
We just attended her wedding in Toronto. Thank goddess she defected and has met and married a lovely, chill, Canadian-Afghan man!
Incredibly happy ending to a fraught and horrific situation! 
They have a very serious tradition of having a handshake stand as a symbol of eternal friendship. It's not just some casual greeting to them.
I have friends there that I have now lost track of and worry about every day. I was fortunate to make them during my work on helping to make the campaign to save Mes Aynak go viral.
I literally fear some of them may be dead now. I miss our sweet chats and learning about their amazing recipes.
Life can be so horrible sometimes.
Women and children, always last is more real than the other way around. What happened to that belief?
I really don't believe that the old social maxim which states the reverse, "women and children first" was ever really anything more than for show from its inception.
We haven't even started to see the famine we will have as a result of our climate emergency. We really need to get serious about what's ahead in this realm.
So much suffering.
❤️