Afghanistan has its ‘sharpest surge’ ever of child malnutrition, UN agency says – CNN

Report on the Escalating Malnutrition Crisis in Afghanistan and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: A Setback for Sustainable Development

Afghanistan is experiencing an unprecedented surge in child malnutrition, posing a significant threat to the nation’s progress towards several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report, based on findings from the World Food Programme (WFP), outlines the scale of the crisis, its primary drivers, and the urgent need for international cooperation to mitigate its impact.

2.0 State of the Crisis: Direct Challenges to Core SDGs

The current situation in Afghanistan represents a critical failure to meet fundamental human needs, directly contravening the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

2.1 Failure to Achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

• Nearly 10 million people, equivalent to one-quarter of the Afghan population, are currently facing acute food insecurity.
• This crisis marks the sharpest-ever recorded surge of child malnutrition in the country’s history.

2.2 Impact on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

• The health and developmental future of the nation’s youth are severely compromised, with one in three children suffering from stunting as a direct result of malnutrition.

3.0 Analysis of Causal Factors Impeding SDG Progress

The escalating humanitarian crisis is attributed to a confluence of factors, each undermining specific SDGs and compounding the overall challenge.

1. 3.1 Weakening of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • A significant drop in emergency food assistance over the past two years, caused by dwindling donor support, is a primary driver of the crisis.
   • The cessation of food aid in April by the United States, previously the largest single donor to the WFP, exemplifies the breakdown in international partnerships crucial for sustaining development in vulnerable nations. Previous aid was viewed as a tool for achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by alleviating conflict and poverty.

2. 3.2 Exacerbation of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • The crisis is worsened by the mass return of Afghans from neighboring countries, placing additional strain on already scarce resources.
   • These returnees represent a particularly vulnerable group, and the WFP’s capacity to assist them is severely limited by funding shortfalls.

3. 3.3 The Threat of SDG 13 (Climate Action)

   • Climate change is identified as a significant contributing factor, disproportionately affecting rural populations and undermining agricultural stability.
   • According to the National Environmental Protection Agency, the “profound impact” of climate-related phenomena—including drought, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods—is directly harming livelihoods and the national economy, further impeding progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty).

4.0 Urgent Funding Appeal to Restore SDG Momentum

The World Food Programme has issued an urgent appeal for funding to address the immediate needs of the population and prevent further regression on development goals.

• A total of $539 million is required through January to provide essential aid to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable families.
• A specific allocation of $15 million is needed to assist eligible returnees from Iran, a critical component of managing the displacement crisis and addressing SDG 10.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several interconnected issues in Afghanistan, primarily focusing on malnutrition, food insecurity, and the factors contributing to this crisis. The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are directly addressed or connected:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The text directly discusses child malnutrition, stunting, and acute food insecurity affecting a large portion of the population.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The surge in child malnutrition and stunting is a critical health issue. Malnutrition severely impacts the physical and cognitive development of children, directly relating to health and well-being targets.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article mentions the need to help the “country’s most vulnerable families” and links food aid to alleviating poverty, highlighting the connection between poverty and hunger.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly states that climate change is a contributing factor to the crisis, mentioning “drought, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods” that hurt the population and economy.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article heavily emphasizes the role of international cooperation and funding. It details the reliance on the World Food Programme (WFP), the impact of dwindling donor support, and the specific funding cuts from the US, which directly relates to global partnerships for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.1: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.”
   • Explanation: The article highlights that “Almost 10 million people, a quarter of Afghanistan’s population, face acute food insecurity,” directly addressing the failure to meet this target and the urgency of the situation.
2. Target 2.2: “By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age…”
   • Explanation: The article’s central theme is the “sharpest-ever surge of child malnutrition” and the fact that “One in three children is stunted,” which aligns perfectly with this target.
3. Target 3.2: “By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age…”
   • Explanation: While not explicitly mentioning child mortality rates, severe malnutrition as described in the article is a leading cause of preventable deaths in children under five. The crisis described directly threatens the achievement of this target.
4. Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
   • Explanation: The article states that “drought, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods were having a ‘profound impact’ on people’s lives and the economy,” indicating a lack of resilience and adaptive capacity to these climate-related hazards.
5. Target 17.2: “Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments…”
   • Explanation: The article points to a failure in this area by noting that the crisis is linked to “dwindling donor support” and specifically mentions that the “administration of US President Donald Trump cut off food aid to Afghanistan.”
6. Target 17.3: “Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources.”
   • Explanation: The World Food Programme’s appeal for funding is a direct attempt to mobilize such resources. The article specifies that the WFP “needed $539 million” and requires “$15 million to assist all eligible returnees.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the status and progress of the identified targets.

• For Target 2.1 (End Hunger):
  • Indicator: Prevalence of severe food insecurity.
  • Data from article: “Almost 10 million people, a quarter of Afghanistan’s population, face acute food insecurity.”
• For Target 2.2 (End Malnutrition):
  • Indicator: Prevalence of stunting among children.
  • Data from article: “One in three children is stunted.”
  • Indicator: Prevalence of malnutrition.
  • Data from article: The country is seeing its “sharpest-ever surge of child malnutrition.”
• For Target 13.1 (Climate Resilience):
  • Indicator: Impact of climate-related hazards on the population and economy.
  • Data from article (Qualitative): The article notes the “profound impact” of “drought, water shortages, declining arable land, and flash floods.”
• For Target 17.2 & 17.3 (Partnerships and Financial Resources):
  • Indicator: Volume of Official Development Assistance and mobilized financial resources.
  • Data from article: The article provides specific financial figures that serve as indicators of need and past contributions, such as the WFP’s requirement for “$539 million,” the specific need for “$15 million” for returnees, and the past US contribution of “$4.5 billion of the $9.8 billion in donations last year.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: edition.cnn.com