As international aid from the United States and other countries has sharply declined since last year, warnings have emerged that the malnutrition crisis among children in Afghanistan has reached an extremely severe level this year.

According to foreign media reports, including AFP and AP, on the 5th (local time), John Aylieff, the World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Afghanistan, stated in a statement the previous day that "14 million Afghans are currently suffering from severe hunger," adding that "child malnutrition, in particular, is spiraling out of control."

He added, "This crisis is worsening day by day," and "Tragically, it is a situation we are powerless to stop."

Currently in Afghanistan, the number of children rushed to medical centers belatedly due to malnutrition has surged, while cases of death due to delayed treatment are also increasing.

It is reported that 80 percent of children who die from malnutrition are under the age of two.

Director Aylieff emphasized, "Severe wasting, the most lethal form of malnutrition, is currently at critical levels in one-third of all provinces," and "Last year saw the largest surge in malnutrition rates ever recorded compared to the previous year, and this year is proving to be far worse."

The WFP stated that this year it has secured funding to provide food to only about 1 out of every 7 women and children suffering from acute malnutrition.

"We are turning 6 out of 7 people away empty-handed with nothing to give them," Director Aylieff said, adding, "The faint cries of malnourished babies are filling Afghan health centers."

He emphasized that hunger will ultimately bring instability to Afghanistan, which will spread across borders, noting that "an unstable Afghanistan benefits no one."

The WFP stated that due to cuts in international aid, 142 health centers in Afghanistan closed last year, causing more than 13,000 children to lose the opportunity to receive malnutrition treatment.

It added that this year, 3.7 million children and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan are suffering from acute malnutrition.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)