WFP: Hunger in Afghanistan Is Worsening

Photo: UNICEF/Munir Tanweer

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that hunger in Afghanistan is worsening, with malnutrition among children rising rapidly.

In a post on X on Monday (October 20), the agency said that due to funding shortages, it can reach only a small portion of those in need and urgently requires support before winter arrives.

The WFP stressed that “every child has the right to sufficient and nutritious food,” but in Afghanistan, this right has been denied to millions of children.

It further noted that nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life plays a vital role in physical and mental development, and a lack of essential nutrients during this period can affect health, learning, and future income.

Earlier, the WFP said it urgently needs 622 million dollars to continue its operations in Afghanistan. Without this funding, millions of people will face a humanitarian crisis in the coming winter.

According to reports by UN-affiliated agencies, more than 9.5 million people in Afghanistan are experiencing severe food insecurity, with about 1.5 million in an emergency phase. The crisis has particularly affected women and children; statistics indicate that over 14 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition, and at least 500,000 children could die of hunger this year.

Restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women, the decline in international aid, economic collapse, widespread unemployment, and natural disasters are among the main factors contributing to this crisis.