MSF: Big Rise In The Number Of Malnourished Children In Afghanistan

BERLIN, June 26 (Bernama-dpa) -- The charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported an alarming increase in the number of malnourished children in southern Afghanistan, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Nutrition centres supported by the organisation in the region recorded a 30 per cent increase in the number of malnourished children admitted in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year, according to a statement issued on Friday.

"Children are reaching us far too late, often in critical condition with preventable medical complications," said Ana Lilia Banda, medical coordinator for MSF in southern Afghanistan. Most of the children admitted are under one-year-old.

On Wednesday, Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban administration in Kabul, said the government is committed to protecting children's rights, according to a report on Afghan television channel Tolonews.

MSF said it was particularly concerned about a significant cut in international funding for Afghanistan. 

The resulting closures of healthcare facilities across the country are making it more difficult to detect malnutrition at an early stage. The situation is being exacerbated by recurring droughts.

Since the Taliban retook power in the summer of 2021, international donor countries have drastically cut their contributions to humanitarian programmes there. 

On Tuesday, representatives of the Taliban were received by the European Commission for talks in Brussels for the first time. The discussions, held at a "technical level", focused on the deportation of Afghans back to their home country, the European Commission confirmed.

-- BERNAMA-dpa