The key facts

  • This winter, acute food insecurity is forecast for 19.2 million Afghans, with 5 million at emergency level
  • From September to October, 15.9 million people are in crisis — almost one in three
  • About a third of nutrition centers are closed or suspended due to funding cuts

Scale of the food crisis

Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan, told journalists in Geneva that this winter nearly 19.2 million people in the country may face acute food insecurity due to funding shortfalls. According to her, from September to October, acute food insecurity at crisis level or worse affects 15.9 million people — 'almost one in three Afghans.' This winter, 5 million people may find themselves at the famine emergency level.

Children and the nutrition system

More than 4 million children aged 6 months to 5 years are projected to need treatment for acute malnutrition next year, including nearly 1.1 million for the acute form specifically. About a third of nutrition centers are closed or have suspended operations, partly due to funding cuts. 'When these services disappear, the consequences can be irreversible, especially for children,' Cherevko warned.

Causes and restrictions on women

Despite improved precipitation and growth in agricultural production, millions of people remain unable to afford food, and years of conflict, drought and economic hardship have undermined families' ability to cope with the crisis. 'But one good harvest after several years of drought cannot undo the damage,' the UN spokesperson noted. She also pointed out that restrictions on the rights of women and girls are exacerbating the crisis: according to UNICEF estimates, if current restrictions persist, by 2030 Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female health workers.

UN appeal

Cherevko called for urgent humanitarian assistance before the onset of winter, as well as for sustained investment in agriculture, employment, healthcare and economic opportunities for women.