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2025–2026 hunger crisis in Afghanistan

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The 2025–2026 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is reported to be one of the most severe hunger crises of 2025. Over 10 million people need food assistance, and 3.5 million children are suffering from malnutrition.[1][2][3] The current crisis had several reasons, including economic collapse, climate problems, mass displacement, and a sharp decline in international aid. Humanitarian groups claim that in the near future, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and vulnerable families will be at serious risk because reduced funds have sharply cut food assistance programs.[3][4]

Background

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For decades Afghanistan has been facing food crises, with causes including ongoing conflicts, unstable governments, natural disasters and heavy dependence on international aid.[5][3] Since 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, the country has faced international sanctions and the freezing of US$3,500,000 of Afghan government assets by Joe Biden.[6] Humanitarian aid has also been severely reduced, with funding dropping from US$3,800,000,000 in 2022 to US$767,000,000.[7] All these have caused unstable social and economic conditions.[3][6] Afghanistan has also suffered several natural disasters that include droughts, earthquakes, and flash floods, causing significant damage to agricultural production.[2][8][9] The deportation of 1.35 million Afghani refugees from Iran and Pakistan, brought even more stress on the country.[10][11][12][13]

Scale

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The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), says that in 2025, Afghanistan is facing severe levels of food insecurity. About 17.2 million people, roughly 40% of the population, were classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or Phase 4 (Emergency), with 9.5 million projected to need urgent assistance between May and October. As of the latest report in September 2025, the situation has worsened to 22.9 million Afghans, over half of the population, needing humanitarian aid. This includes 12.6 million people categorized as “crisis” or “emergency” levels of acute food insecurity.[14][15]

The World Food Programme (WFP), can only supply aid to about 1 million people each month, due to of lack of funding. This has left over 8 million people without food assistance. Many children under five are severely malnourished, with about 3.5 million affected, and hospitals have reported a third of children have stunted growth.[16]

December 2025 reports

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Reports from December 2025 state that one third of the population, which are 17 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute food insecurity during the winter months. This is a 3 million increase in compare to last year. Among the 17 million are 4 million children that will suffer from acute malnutrition.[17][18]

Causes

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The 2025 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is caused by several reasons that are connected to one another.

Reduced funding

Recent years and especially the last one has seen a serious cut in funds of the international aid. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) it can only support about 1 million people each month, while millions more are left without aid. The UN's funds for Afghanistan in 2025 were cut by 15%, meaning less food, health, and nutrition services.[8][2][4]

Economic collapse

Since the Taliban returned to power and international sanctions were enforced on the country, its economy has rapidly declined. Unemployment is very high, the Afghan currency has lost its value, and food prices have risen sharply, leaving families unable to afford basic products.[2][3]

Climate change

Afghanistan has been suffering from the effects of extreme climate change in recent years. Severe droughts, along with floods and irregular rainfall, have destroyed crops, forcing farming families to leave their land. As a result many communities are left dependent on imports and aid.[2][14][3]

Return of refugees

In 2025, over 1.5 million Afghans were sent back from Iran and Pakistan, often with no resources, adding pressure to already scarce supplies.[3][13] According to a November 2025 report, 1.8 million Afghans returned to the country, 1.19 million were Afghans deported from Iran.[19]

Access restrictions

The severe laws on women's rights in Afghanistan have reduced the numbers of female humanitarian workers in several sectors, limiting aid delivery, especially to women and children.[20][21]

Humanitarian impact

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The hunger crisis has a severe effect on the country's population.[10] According to the United Nations, more and more young children are suffering from malnutrition, which may lead to stunted growth and child deaths.[4] Pregnant women and mother who are still breastfeeding, are also at high risk as they do not eat enough healthy food. The situation is worse for refugees returning to the country and displaced people as they are without jobs and homes.[4]

In Kabul and other cities, many people are begging for food, and families are forced to live in hunger.[4] Nutrition centers are overcrowded, and the World Food Programme cannot take in new mothers and children who need help due to funding restrictions.[2][10] Aid groups warn that without more support, the coming winter could push millions into famine.[10][2][22]

International and local responses

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Even though the 2025 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is causing great international concern, efforts to provide sufficient aid have encountered many problems because of cuts in funds, problems in transport and aid delivery, as well as government restrictions. The World Food Programme has provided limited food aid, while UNICEF and its partners have run nutrition programs for children and mothers.[15][23][24]

In January 2026, the UN and the Asian Development Bank launched a two-year, US$100 million programme to support more than 151,000 families in Afghanistan.[25]

In January 2026, Australia sent an additional $50 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, bringing the total aid since 2021 to $310 million. This support aims to address the worsening crisis exacerbated by Taliban rule, particularly focusing on food security, health services, and aid for women and children. Agencies like the World Food Programme and Save the Children will help deliver the aid. [26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "WFP Seeks $539 Million as Hunger Crisis Deepens in Afghanistan". kabulnow.com. 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Omer, Sevil (1 September 2025). "Afghanistan crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help". World Vision. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Afghanistan has its 'sharpest surge' ever of child malnutrition, UN agency says". AP News. 4 August 2025. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "UN official says conflicts, disasters and funding cuts a 'perfect storm' causing acute hunger". AP News. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Afghanistan Refugee Crisis Explained". unrefugees.org. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Timeline of events in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover". The Independent. 12 August 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  7. ^ Yawar, Mohammad Yunus; Greenfield, Charlotte (1 September 2025). "Funding cuts to Afghanistan obstruct earthquake response". Reuters. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Afghanistan". World Food Program USA. Archived from the original on 1 October 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Afghanistan". World Food Programme. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d Furlong, Ray; Marzban, Omid (17 August 2025). "World Food Program Warns Of 'Unprecedented' Hunger Crisis In Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Afghanistan malnutrition: The mother who buried three children". BBC. 21 September 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  12. ^ "2025 global report on food crises". 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Afghan refugees in Iran: Deported to uncertainty". DW. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  14. ^ a b "WFP Afghanistan: Situation Report, May 2025". ReliefWeb. 12 June 2025. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Afghanistan". Security Council Report. Archived from the original on 17 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Afghanistan has its 'sharpest surge' ever of child malnutrition, UN agency says". CNN. 5 August 2025. Archived from the original on 27 August 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Latest food security report confirms fears of deepening hunger crisis in Afghanistan as winter sets in". wfp.org. 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  18. ^ "Millions face food insecurity in Afghanistan as winter looms, UN says". euronews. 16 December 2025. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Situation Afghanistan situation". United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Afghanistan: IPC Acute Food Insecurity Analysis - March – October 2025". ReliefWeb. 4 June 2025. Archived from the original on 28 July 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Better data for better outcomes: New tools and analysis to break Afghanistan's food security crisis". World Bank Blogs. Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  22. ^ Greenfield, Charlotte (27 January 2025). ""Just bread and tea": WFP says aid cuts to Afghanistan leave millions hungry this winter". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  23. ^ "Global Humanitarian Overview 2025". Humanitarian Action. 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  24. ^ "Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, May 2025". OCHA. 19 August 2025. Archived from the original on 21 December 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Afghanistan launches $100 million food security programme as crisis deepens". Reuters. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  26. ^ Rontziokos, Pamela (29 January 2026). "'Dire': Australia sends additional $50m in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan amid Taliban's brutality".
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