UN Warns 19 Million Afghans Face Acute Winter Hunger

The United Nations warns that 19.2 million people in Afghanistan, roughly 38 percent of the population, will face high levels of acute food insecurity during the winter lean season from November 2026 to April 2027. Approximately five million of these individuals are expected to reach emergency levels of hunger, a state described as being "one step away from famine".

Humanitarian agencies report that acute malnutrition is worsening, with projections that four million children will require treatment in 2027. This includes 1.09 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Officials attribute the crisis to a combination of shrinking international funding, high unemployment, and the forced return of 1.2 million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan. Trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have further inflated the cost of essential goods.

While favorable rainfall boosted the 2026 harvest, officials note that food available in markets remains unaffordable for families without steady incomes. The crisis is compounded by the Taliban-led government's systematic exclusion of women and girls from society, which undermines household resilience. In response to the funding gap, the World Food Programme has requested $540 million to sustain operations through January 2027.

Amidst the humanitarian collapse, Russia is expanding its economic presence. Russian officials announced that bilateral trade turnover doubled in the first half of 2026, and a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is scheduled to visit Afghanistan for further economic talks.