Rome: According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the food security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated sharply, with hunger levels rising by around three million people compared to last year. Among those affected are nearly four million children, highlighting the growing severity of the crisis.

Speaking from the WFP headquarters in Rome, Jan Martin Bauer, Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis at the UN World Food Programme, said the situation is becoming increasingly dire as winter approaches. “The situation is getting worse, and we must act now, as Afghanistan enters the winter period, when needs are at their highest,” he said.

Bauer attributed the worsening conditions to a combination of factors, including prolonged drought damaging crops and livestock, recent earthquakes that have pushed thousands of families deeper into poverty, and significant cuts in international aid.

Adding to the strain, more than 2.5 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan this year, placing immense pressure on the country’s already scarce resources and limited infrastructure. The World Food Programme expects a similar number of returnees in 2026, further intensifying humanitarian challenges.

Warning of “the most serious consequences” if urgent support is not provided, Bauer called on donors to step up assistance.