Afghanistan is reeling under a severe hunger crisis, with over 22 million people—more than half the population—now facing acute food insecurity, according to the latest IPC (Integrated Food Security Classification) estimates.
The crisis stems from a combination of economic collapse, sharp reductions in international aid, climate extremes, and mass displacement. Rural areas are hardest hit, with drought destroying crops and driving families to rely on unsafe coping strategies.
UN agencies warn that malnutrition rates among children under five are soaring; around 3.5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition.
Aid organizations say funding shortfalls are hampering relief; the World Food Programme (WFP) can only reach a fraction of those in need each month.
For Afghan media, the story is a national humanitarian catastrophe. For regional and international outlets, it underlines how political instability, conflict, and climate change combine to drive large-scale human suffering.