Afghanistan records its highest ever hunger levels with 15.9 million facing acute food insecurity

16 October 2026

A new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report finds acute malnutrition and hunger in Afghanistan at the highest levels ever recorded.
15.9 million people face acute food insecurity, with 3.4 million in emergency phase four conditions, which precedes famine.
More than 32 per cent of the population is in crisis-level phase three or above for the August to October period.
From November to April, during the winter lean season, nearly 19.2 million people are projected to be in phase three or above, including five million in emergency conditions.
4.04 million children under the age of five are projected to need treatment for acute malnutrition between January and December 2027.
The World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization called for urgent funding; WFP country director John Aylieff said there is still a window to act but it is closing fast.