UN: Malnutrition surges among mothers in Afghanistan

Rahmatullah Baghban

Press TV, Kabul

This year’s International Women’s Day has seen the United Nations raising the alarm about the situation of women in Afghanistan. UNICEF has announced that the number of malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women in the country has increased by 49 percent.

According to the UN agency, nearly three million women and young girls in Afghanistan suffer from undernutrition.

As the war-torn country is gripped by multiple crises, Afghan women and children are hit the hardest. Doctors and experts emphasize the need for continued relief funds for Afghans, especially women.

Most households in Afghanistan are relying on their male breadwinners. In many cases, they fail to make ends meet or provide enough food for their families as the country has been grappling with an economic crisis, mainly caused by the freezing of Afghan assets by Western countries. The US and its allies have frozen Afghan assets and aid after the Taliban took power in 2021 following the chaotic US withdrawal from the country.

This year on international women’s day, Afghan women are in great distress as they experience rapidly deteriorating conditions. Advocates are calling for greater attention and support for the well-being of Afghan women.

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