Devastating Hunger Crisis in Afghanistan: A Mother's Heartbreaking Loss

Fri Oct 10 2025 19:27:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A poignant account reveals the tragic realities of malnutrition affecting Afghan families as they grapple with the deaths of children. This article highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, shedding light on the struggles faced by parents in the wake of lost hope.

Ghulam Mohiddin and his wife Nazo mourn the loss of their three young sons to malnutrition in Afghanistan. The deaths are part of an alarming trend as over three million children face malnutrition amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by dwindling international aid. The article explores the challenges faced by families and the stark realities of child mortality in this troubled region.

As gusts of wind swept dust off the ground, Ghulam Mohiddin and his wife Nazo approached the graveyard where all their children rest. Over the past two years, they have lost three boys to malnutrition: one-year-old Rahmat, seven-month-old Koatan, and three-month-old Faisal Ahmad. 'Can you imagine how painful it is to lose three children? One minute there’s a baby in your arms, the next minute they are gone,' laments Nazo. 'I hope every day that angels will somehow bring my babies back home.'

This heart-wrenching story is not an isolated incident; it reflects a larger, formidable crisis across Afghanistan, where malnutrition is surging among children. Nearly three million children are at risk, according to the World Food Programme, as the country navigates an unprecedented hunger crisis.

The couple struggles to survive on what little they can afford—breaking walnut shells for a living—and have not received aid from the Taliban government or international organizations. 'Watching my children cry from hunger felt like my body was on fire,' shares Ghulam.

Currently, Afghanistan is witnessing the highest recorded increase in child malnutrition, exacerbated by reduced food assistance from international donors, particularly after the US cut aid earlier this year. 'Food assistance kept hunger at bay for the most vulnerable, but now that support is fading,' states John Aylieff, the WFP country director.

While Ghulam and Nazo's children are buried in an unmarked graveyard, other families, too, share similar grief, making it evident that this silent wave of child mortality continues to engulf Afghanistan. The grim reality is a world where children are left vulnerable and food insecure, dwindling the hope of parents like Ghulam and Nazo.

In homes across settlements like Sheidaee, families live in constant fear of starvation. One mother, Hanifa Sayedi, expresses her desperation as her one-year-old son Rafiullah becomes increasingly weak from malnutrition. 'I cannot afford the cost of nutritious meals for him. He cries for food, and I often feel helpless,' she says.

The situation is critical, with hospitals overflowing with malnourished children, a dark echo of a humanitarian disaster that demands immediate attention and resolution.

As winter approaches, the urgency of this disaster becomes even more pronounced. The support systems in Afghanistan are crumbling, leaving families to rely on hope alone as they confront the heartbreaking anguish of losing children to hunger.