One in five Afghans urgently need food aid as rising hunger threatens millions amid economic collapse and declining international support.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that one in every five people in Afghanistan is dependent on humanitarian aid to survive. The agency warned that if international support continues to decline, millions more Afghans will face severe hunger and food insecurity in the coming months.

According to the latest WFP assessment, approximately 20% of Afghanistan’s population is currently in crisis and in urgent need of food assistance. The report states that nearly 15 million people could experience critical food shortages if global aid drops further.

The WFP estimates that between May and October 2025, around 9.5 million Afghans will require immediate food support. Of this population, about 1.6 million are expected to be in the emergency phase (IPC Phase 4), while nearly 7.93 million will fall under the crisis phase (IPC Phase 3) of food insecurity.

Years of economic instability, prolonged droughts, and ongoing internal conflicts and the Taliban rule have severely worsened Afghanistan’s food security. International organizations have consistently flagged the deteriorating conditions and stressed the need for sustained donor funding to prevent a humanitarian disaster.

Experts emphasize that long-term solutions must address the root causes of hunger in Afghanistan, including agricultural rehabilitation, water infrastructure, and economic development. Short-term relief alone cannot prevent recurring cycles of crisis.

As the global spotlight dims on Afghanistan, humanitarian agencies warn that neglect could cost millions of lives. Renewed global solidarity is essential to support Afghans through one of the worst hunger crises in the country’s modern history.