A government survey in Nepal has revealed a sharp rise in child malnutrition, with health experts warning that years of progress in reducing child deaths could be reversed following major cuts to international nutrition funding. The findings, based on the country’s largest-ever assessment of children under five, have raised concerns over the growing vulnerability of children, particularly in poor and remote communities.
The nationwide screening programme, conducted by the Nepal government in May, assessed more than one million children aged between six months and five years. It found that 7.8% of children were suffering from wasting, a severe form of acute malnutrition caused by inadequate nutrition, while 1.6% were classified as severely wasted. In addition, 17.4% of children were found to be underweight. The situation was particularly alarming in Madhesh province along the Indian border, where wasting reached 12.3% and nearly one in four children were underweight. According to standards set by the World Health Organization, wasting rates above 10% require immediate intervention.
Nutrition specialists attribute much of the deterioration to the termination of major nutrition programmes previously funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The funding was discontinued after the agency was shut down by the US administration in 2025, leaving several community-based nutrition initiatives without financial support. Helen Keller International, one of the key implementing organisations, had been scheduled to receive $72 million over five years to expand nutrition services across 48 districts, but has since managed to secure less than $5 million from other donors, significantly reducing the programme’s reach.
Experts say the loss of community outreach has disrupted early identification and treatment of malnourished children. Although Nepal continues to maintain stocks of ready-to-use therapeutic food, many families are no longer being connected to treatment services because door-to-door screening and follow-up visits by health workers have largely stopped. Current estimates suggest that only about 35% of children suffering from wasting receive appropriate treatment.
Health experts have warned that the consequences extend beyond immediate health risks. Malnourished children face a significantly higher risk of death, weakened immunity, poor educational outcomes and reduced productivity later in life. Nepal had achieved remarkable success over the past two decades, reducing under-five mortality by around 72% between 1996 and 2022, but specialists now fear those gains may be undermined unless nutrition programmes receive urgent financial support.
Rising food prices have compounded the crisis, making nutritious foods increasingly unaffordable for vulnerable families. Officials have also stressed that tackling malnutrition requires broader efforts beyond food assistance, including improved access to clean water, better maternal healthcare and greater investment in women’s empowerment. The Nepal government has appealed to international development partners and aid agencies to increase funding and support immediate interventions to prevent the nutrition crisis from worsening further.
