WFP: Afghanistan Needs $568 Million in Food Aid Through Early 2026
Tawazon – World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a warning over the worsening food insecurity in Afghanistan,saying it urgently requires at least $568 million to continue life-saving operations in the country through early 2026.
In a new statement, the UN agency said that international funding has sharply declined forcing it to significantly scale back its food assistance operations across Afghanistan. According to WFP, its overall budget for Afghanistan programs dropped from $9.8 billion to approximately $6.4 billion, leaving the agency facing a funding gap of over $600 million.
WFP said the cuts have had devastating consequences for vulnerable Afghan communities. The agency can now assist less than 10 percent of food-insecure households, despite nearly 15 million people in the country facing severe hunger. Millions more remain at risk of sliding into famine, the agency warned.
“Sufficient and nutritious food is a right for every child, but in Afghanistan, hunger is worsening, malnutrition is surging and WFP can now reach only a fraction of those in need due to funding cuts” the agency noted, adding that it currently reaches only around 1 million people per month, compared to the millions previously assisted.
The crisis is expected to worsen as winter approaches, especially in remote and mountainous regions where access to food becomes increasingly difficult. Recent natural disasters,including the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, have deepened humanitarian needs.
WFP appealed to donor countries, international organizations, and the private sector to urgently step n before winter isolates communities and escalates the risk of famine.
“If funding is not restored at this critical stage, millions of Afghans will face hunger, malnutrition, and possible death,” the agency warned. The statement also emphasized that Afghanistan’s food crisis is not only a humanitarian emergency, but one that could trigger serious economic, social, and security consequences.
