Afghanistan’s recent earthquakes have put up to 37,000 children facing malnutrition at even greater risk as the tremors damaged numerous health clinics in a region, Save the Children said [1].
The Nutrition Cluster in Afghanistan – a group of humanitarian organisations which includes Save the Children – estimates that about 37,000 children under five and 10,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are facing severe or acute malnutrition in the earthquake-affected areas where more than 91,000 people need nutrition support [1].
A week after the 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck, tremors are still shaking eastern Afghanistan, where at least 16 health facilities have been damaged, and one completely destroyed, by the quake [4]. About 422 health facilities have closed or been suspended across Afghanistan due to lack of funding, reducing life-saving healthcare for about 3 million people [5].
For children, this means fewer health services to screen for and prevent malnutrition – and a reduced ability to intervene at speed, especially in cases of severe malnutrition that require urgent treatment.
The earthquake, that has caused about 2,200 deaths – including about 750 children, according to the UN [2] – came at a time when Afghanistan is struggling with a nationwide child malnutrition crisis. Nearly five million children – or about 20% of children in Afghanistan – are facing ‘crisis’ or ’emergency’ levels of food shortages. It is estimated that 3.5 million of these children could suffer from malnutrition this year [3].
With houses destroyed or too unstable to inhabit, some families are moving into informal camps. Distribution points are providing aid, including food and household items for families. Ebad* managed to save his 11 children during the earthquake but is now living under makeshift shelters having after lost everything:

“Whatever we had in the house went under the rubble – our house things, clothes, blankets, pillows, the food we had. My goats and cows went under the rubble, I couldn’t save them. The aftershocks are occurring continuously. The children are afraid from each aftershock and run to their parents.”

Save the Children was among the first international organisations on the ground in Kunar where the majority of casualties occurred and is providing health care, psychosocial support for children, water and sanitation services, household and hygiene kits, and multipurpose cash assistance. We have supported more than 12,000 people including over 7,000 children since the earthquake on 1 September.

Samira Sayed Rahman, Programmes and Advocacy Director, Save the Children in Afghanistan, said:
“Child malnutrition is already a national emergency. The devastating earthquake will only deepen this crisis. Children suffering from malnutrition are 11 times more likely to die from common childhood illnesses and diseases. When an earthquake strikes, those risks increase.”
“When a health clinic is damaged by disaster – or shut down by funding cuts – children often have to walk for miles to reach medical help. Our health teams are working round the clock providing immediate care, but the challenges ahead are immense and cannot be overcome without sustained, urgent funding from donors and governments.”
Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976, including during periods of conflict and natural disasters. We have programmes in 10 provinces and work with partners in an additional 11 provinces. We deliver services spanning health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and livelihoods. Please support our Children’s Emergency Fund to help children affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan: https://savethechildren.click/afghanistan-earthquake-en

References:
* Denotes name changed to protect identity
[1] Figures from the Nutrition Cluster in Afghanistan, a group of international humanitarian organisations which Save the Children is part of.
[2] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-flash-update-4-earthquake-nangarhar-province-7-september-2025
[3] https://www.savethechildren.net/news/afghanistan-one-five-children-facing-crisis-levels-hunger-funding-cuts-reduce-food-aid
[4] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-earthquake-who-situation-report-no-5-5-september-2025
[5] https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-suspendedclosed-health-facilities-due-us-government-work-stop-ban-update-31-august-2025