Afghanistan: 15M People At Risk Of Extreme Hunger Due To Severe Winter
As winter approaches, international aid organizations warn that nearly 15 million people in Afghanistan are at risk of extreme hunger, Afghanistan International reported yesterday.
The World Food Programme (WFP) and Save the Children estimate that one in three Afghans will require food assistance to survive the harsh conditions over the next three months.
WFP spokesperson Philippe Kropf highlighted the worsening hunger crisis, predicting that 3.45 million children will likely suffer from malnutrition in 2025. Current assessments indicate that 24 million people, over half of Afghanistan’s population, will need urgent humanitarian aid, including food and cash, to avoid escalating poverty and food insecurity.
Families are facing difficult choices between food, heating, and warm clothing, with 6.5 million children experiencing emergency levels of hunger. The WFP requires $787 million in funding over the next six months to support vulnerable families, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that at least $1 billion is needed for aid this winter.
Challenges such as rising food prices, an inefficient economy under the Taliban, and blocked roads due to snowfall further exacerbate the crisis, leaving many Afghans in dire need.
