Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a dangerous surge in hunger, with malnutrition reaching record highs. Winter will be a flash point for hunger, with millions of people caught between a deepening crisis and fading hope.

One-third of the population — 17.4 million people — are projected to face acute food insecurity, including 4.7 million at emergency levels of hunger.

Malnutrition among women and children is projected to reach nearly 5 million in 2026 — a new high — as access to treatment becomes increasingly limited.

The crisis is being driven by a combination of persistent drought, economic distress, forced returns, earthquake shocks and shrinking aid.

The 2025 drought — one of the worst in a decade — has affected over half the country, causing widespread crop failures. Earthquakes in the east and north have added to humanitarian needs, leaving families without homes or livelihoods.

The World Food Programme (WFP) lacks an adequate winter response for the first time in decades. This was previously a lifeline for millions of Afghan families.

With immediate funding, WFP can launch a large-scale winter response — reaching communities fully dependent on food assistance and ensuring families do not go to bed hungry or fall deeper into crisis.

WFP urgently requires US$386 million to deliver life-saving food assistance to 6 million of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable people.