UN: Millions in Afghanistan on brink of severe hunger crisis

Hamoon Wed Oct 2026 14 hours ago 54

Olga Chernykh, spokesperson for the agency, said on Tuesday, October 20, that despite improvements in agricultural yields, many families are unable to afford sufficient food due to unemployment and low incomes.


Chernykh, who recently visited southern and northeastern regions of Afghanistan, emphasized that the main problem is not just the availability of food in markets, but people's inability to cover living expenses. According to her, years of war, drought, economic challenges, and successive crises have diminished families' capacity to cope with difficult conditions. She added that humanitarian aid is essential to save lives; however, it cannot replace job opportunities and public services.


OCHA's spokesperson called on the international community to act in support of vulnerable families before winter arrives. She deemed investments in agriculture, rural economies, employment, local markets, health services, and water supply essential, and stressed the need to provide economic opportunities for women.


At the same time, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme, in a joint report, have forecasted that in the upcoming winter, approximately 19.2 million people—equivalent to 38 percent of Afghanistan's population—will face acute food insecurity. According to the report, five million people will be in emergency situations, and the provinces of Badakhshan, Badghis, Daikundi, Ghor, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, and rural areas of Ghazni will be among the most vulnerable regions. The two agencies have also warned that cases of acute malnutrition will rise by nearly 10 percent in 2027, reaching four million cases.


According to the FAO and World Food Programme, widespread unemployment, rising living costs, the return of more than 1.2 million Afghan citizens from Iran and Pakistan this calendar year, disruptions to trade routes, and reduced international aid have intensified the pressure on families.


John Aylieff, head of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan, has also warned that as the number of hungry people and those suffering from malnutrition increases, aid resources are dwindling. The two agencies have called for immediate funding to provide food assistance, support farmers, and treat malnutrition, so that aid reaches those in need before the onset of harsh winter cold.



The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that nearly 16 million people in Afghanistan are facing severe hunger, and 3.4 million are in a state of food emergency.

Hamoon Khamoosh

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