Nearly 16 million Afghans face crisis-level hunger and the number is set to rise with winter

20 October 2026

Nearly 16 million Afghans face crisis-level hunger, including about 3.4 million in emergency conditions, and hunger is expected to rise for around 19 million people once winter begins next month. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification findings cited report 15.9 million people facing acute food insecurity, with record acute malnutrition for August to October. Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the United Nations aid coordination office OCHA, briefed from Kabul after field visits to southern and northeastern Afghanistan and said a harvest can improve and markets can have food while families still go hungry, because the crisis turns on whether people can afford food and earn income. She said the outlook is deteriorating and urged action before winter. From January to July United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners reached 8.3 million people with at least one form of assistance. A UNICEF report warns that Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 female health workers by 2030 if current restrictions continue.