OCHA: Nearly 16 Million Afghans Face Crisis-Level Hunger

DID Press: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that Afghanistan’s hunger crisis could worsen as winter approaches, with nearly 16 million people facing acute food insecurity at crisis levels or worse.

According to OCHA spokesperson Olga Cherevko, approximately 3.4 million people are already experiencing emergency levels of hunger. The number of Afghans facing acute food insecurity is projected to rise to around 19.2 million during the winter lean season, from November 2026 to April 2027.

Cherevko stressed that humanitarian assistance alone cannot resolve the crisis, calling for sustained investment in agriculture and rural livelihoods, job creation, healthcare services and broader economic opportunities.

She warned that support must reach vulnerable families before winter intensifies their hardship. Rising living costs, unemployment and declining humanitarian assistance are making it increasingly difficult for households to afford food, even where supplies are available.