Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Afghanistan Faces Severe Hunger Crisis Amid Winter and Aid Cuts
Many people in Afghanistan are very hungry because it's winter and there isn't enough food or money.
A lot of Afghans who were living and working in Iran and Pakistan were sent back to Afghanistan, making the hunger problem even worse.
The United Nations and other groups are trying to help, but there isn't enough food for everyone.
Families are struggling to stay warm and feed their children.
The situation is expected to get worse, with more children becoming malnourished.
The country has been in conflict for a long time, and it's hard to fix these problems quickly.
17 million Afghans face acute hunger due to winter and aid cuts.
Over 2.5 million Afghans deported from Iran and Pakistan, swelling the population.
3 million more people now face acute hunger due to loss of remittances.
WFP aid distribution sites struggle to meet the demand for food.
Malnutrition cases have doubled, with 30 cases treated daily at Qasaba Clinic.
- Who
- Afghans, including deported migrants and local residents
- What
- Severe hunger crisis exacerbated by winter and aid cuts
- When
- Ongoing, with worsening conditions in winter
- Where
- Afghanistan, particularly Kabul and Bamiyan
- Why
- Massive cuts in international aid, deportations from Iran and Pakistan, and economic collapse post-Taliban takeover
- Population Affected
- 17 million facing acute hunger
- Deported Afghans
- 2.5 million from Iran and Pakistan
- Additional Hungry
- 3 million due to returning Afghans
- Malnutrition Cases
- 30 per day at Qasaba Clinic
- WFP Aid
- Rice, palm oil, and supplements
- Temperature
- Falling at dusk, causing severe cold
- Economic Impact
- Loss of government jobs post-Taliban takeover
- Predicted Malnourishment
- 200,000 more children in 2026