UN Warns 19.2 Million Afghans Face Acute Food Insecurity
United Nations agencies warn that nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan face acute hunger and rising malnutrition as winter approaches and humanitarian funding declines.
The United Nations projects that 19.2 million people in Afghanistan will face high levels of acute food insecurity during the winter lean season from November 2026 to April 2027. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, five million of these individuals are expected to reach emergency levels of hunger, a state described as being "one step away from famine."
This represents a significant increase from the 17.4 million people affected during the previous year's lean season. The crisis is driven by a combination of funding shortfalls, high unemployment, and the return of over 1.2 million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan. While favorable rainfall boosted 2026 crop production, shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven up the cost of essential goods, making nutritious food unaffordable for families without steady incomes.
Malnutrition is also surging. UNICEF and Action Against Hunger project that acute malnutrition cases will rise by 10 percent in 2027, reaching four million people. This includes 1.09 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a 16 percent increase from 2026. Humanitarian officials warn of a funding cliff that could disrupt life-saving treatments just as needs peak.
Amidst the humanitarian collapse, Russia is expanding its economic presence. Special Representative Zamir Kabulov announced that bilateral trade turnover doubled in the first half of 2026, and a Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is scheduled to visit Afghanistan for further trade talks.
