World Food Programme Urges Immediate Aid for Afghanistan as Winter Crisis Deepens
The World Food Programme (WFP) has called on the international community not to abandon Afghanistan as winter sets in and to uphold their humanitarian commitments amid the country’s growing crisis.
In a statement on Wednesday, December 16, the WFP said the hunger situation in Afghanistan is rapidly deteriorating. The organization attributed the worsening conditions to a combination of drought, economic collapse, forced repatriations, earthquakes, and a decline in international aid—factors that have placed immense pressure on millions of Afghans.
The WFP stressed that the impact of these crises has affected at least 17 million people, drastically increasing their food and livelihood needs. It warned that this situation has been exacerbated by a lack of clear economic policies and the Taliban administration’s inability to manage the crisis, severely restricting public access to employment and essential services.
According to the WFP’s assessment, $468 million is urgently needed over the next six months to address the immediate needs of the population. The agency also warned that four million children are at serious risk of malnutrition—an issue that could have long-term humanitarian and health consequences.
The United Nations has also projected that by 2026, nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan will rely on humanitarian assistance. This alarming forecast underscores the likelihood of a deepening humanitarian crisis without effective intervention from the global community and a shift in the current governing approaches.
