UN Says 23 Million People in Afghanistan Face Severe Food Insecurity

September 8, 2026

1 minute read

From lefr Rahima with her mohter and young sister left their home-town, Lashkargah, due to conflict and now they are in Kandahar Haji IDP camp. In the last few months, the conflict has escalated and there are over 18 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. 4 million children are out of school. Around 400,000 people have left their homes to seek refuge; over half are children. We’ve prepositioned essential supplies, such as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and vaccines throughout the country so that our partners can deliver We’re scaling-up lifesaving water & sanitation efforts, such as water trucking and hygiene kits However, as fighting intensifies and spreads, the operating space for humanitarians providing life-saving assistance continues to shrink dramatically.

The United Nations says Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis remains alarming, with nearly 23 million people in the country facing severe food insecurity.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the UN said Afghans, after more than four decades of war, instability and natural disasters, are still grappling with the wide-ranging consequences of that situation, and humanitarian needs continue across large parts of the country.

According to the report, a large share of Afghanistan’s population needs humanitarian assistance, and the country is becoming one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

The UN also said Afghanistan now hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations, a situation it said has emerged after years of war and successive crises.

The organization stressed that it will remain with the people of Afghanistan and will continue its efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and essential services to those in need. At the same time, the UN called on the international community to continue supporting efforts to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.

Over the past four decades, Afghanistan has not only faced prolonged conflict but has also been hit repeatedly by drought, floods and other natural events, factors that have persistently undermined the livelihoods of millions of people in the country.

September 8, 2026

1 minute read