Over 17 Million Afghans Confront Catastrophic Hunger Amidst Deepening Winter Crisis, UN Agencies Warn

KABUL—The World Food Programme (WFP) issued a stark alert Tuesday that more than 17 million people—nearly half of Afghanistan’s population—are facing severe food insecurity as the harsh winter sets in, marking a dramatic escalation of the country’s humanitarian emergency.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, acute hunger has surged nationwide, placing an additional three million people at risk compared to the same period last year. The data confirms a rapid deterioration in food security, with mortality risks rising sharply due to malnutrition and exposure.

“We have repeatedly warned of a deepening catastrophe, and the new data tragically confirms our fears,” stated John Ayliff, WFP’s Country Director in Afghanistan. “Winter is a death sentence for millions if urgent assistance does not arrive.”

A Convergence of Crises
The emergency is being driven by multiple, overlapping shocks:

• Climate Extremes: A prolonged drought, affecting over half the country, has devastated agricultural livelihoods and crippled food production.

• Economic Collapse: Widespread job losses, a banking crisis, and paralyzing inflation have stripped families of their purchasing power.

• Forced Returns & Displacement: More than 2.5 million migrants have been forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan this year, arriving destitute and deepening strain on host communities. Recent earthquakes have further displaced vulnerable populations.

• Systemic Breakdown: Access to healthcare, clean water, and nutritional support remains critically low, exacerbating the hunger crisis.

Children on the Frontlines
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) underscored that nearly four million Afghan children are at risk of acute malnutrition this winter. “Without immediate treatment, malnutrition is a direct threat to child survival,” a UNICEF spokesperson warned, noting that already overstretched health facilities are inaccessible to many.

Returnees in Peril
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that newly returned migrants face extreme poverty and immediate food shortages, often lacking shelter, documentation, and any means of support. Their influx is intensifying pressure on areas already struggling with scarce resources.

Funding Cliff Amid Soaring Need
Despite the catastrophic scale of need, humanitarian funding for Afghanistan is in precipitous decline. The WFP emphasized it urgently requires $468 million to deliver life-saving food assistance and winter resilience support to six million of the most vulnerable people over the coming months. A funding shortfall now would force cuts to essential programs at the peak of the crisis.

“The world cannot look away,” Ayliff urged. “We have a narrow window to pre-position food and supplies before winter cuts off access to entire regions. Without it, we will witness unimaginable suffering.”

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