Severe malnutrition on the rise among children in southern Afghanistan The crisis is linked in part to sweeping funding cuts that have severely impacted health programs across the country. Leila Rafei June 25 2026, 1:04pm The crisis has been driven in part by sharp reductions in international funding last year, including significant US cuts that have severely impacted health programs across the country . The emergency is compounded by recurrent droughts and disrupted food supplies.