WFP Warns Afghanistan Hunger Crisis Deepens as 14 Million Face Acute Food Insecurity

WFP Warns Afghanistan Hunger Crisis Deepens as 14 Million Face Acute Food Insecurity
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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Afghanistan is facing a growing hunger crisis, with millions of people struggling to access sufficient food due to severe humanitarian funding shortages.

In its latest report, the agency said around 14 million Afghans are experiencing acute food insecurity, while only one in nine people in need of food assistance is currently receiving support. The WFP warned that the gap between humanitarian needs and available resources continues to widen.

The agency said one in three Afghans is affected by acute hunger, while severe child malnutrition has reached critical levels in 12 provinces. The most severe cases are particularly affecting children under the age of two, raising concerns over long-term health consequences.

The worsening situation has been linked to multiple factors, including high unemployment, rising food prices, economic difficulties, reduced international aid, and disruptions to regional trade routes. The WFP also highlighted the impact of large-scale returns and deportations, noting that nearly six million Afghans have returned or been expelled from Iran and Pakistan since September 2023, increasing pressure on the country’s fragile economy.

The agency also reported that border tensions and regional instability have disrupted trade, contributing to a 20–30 percent increase in prices of essential food items and making food increasingly unaffordable for vulnerable households.

The WFP said funding shortages have significantly reduced nutrition programmes, with only a small proportion of malnourished children and women currently receiving treatment. Specialized nutritious food supplies used to prevent malnutrition have been suspended since May 2025 due to a lack of financial resources.