The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it can no longer provide adequate aid to millions of Afghans suffering from hunger and malnutrition, marking the first time in decades it has been unable to mount an effective winter response. In a statement on December 16, the agency said deaths, particularly among children, are likely to rise during Afghanistan’s harsh winter months when food shortages are most severe. International aid to Afghanistan has dropped sharply since 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and the Taliban’s return to power. The humanitarian crisis has been further worsened by repeated natural disasters, including earthquakes. WFP said it requires more than $460 million to deliver food assistance to six million of the country’s most vulnerable people but has received only 12% of the funding needed. The agency estimates that 17 million Afghans now face hunger, an increase of about three million compared with last year. This rise is partly due to the return of millions of Afghans deported from Iran and Pakistan, overwhelming a country with limited capacity to absorb them. WFP officials said 3.7 million Afghan children are acutely malnourished, including one million severe cases, and warned that access to life-saving treatment is becoming increasingly scarce as funding continues to decline.
The WFP warning is a stark reminder of the dire humanitarian and political fallout that has resulted from Afghanistan’s isolation from the international community since 2021. The drastic reduction in aid funding has caused food insecurity, which has been a chronic issue, to escalate to a situation that is now threatening the lives of people, particularly during the winter season, with children suffering from acute malnutrition and mortality rates increasing. This is a clear indication of how sanctions, donor fatigue, and the decision to disengage from the Taliban, led government negatively impact the civilian populations who bear the brunt of it while political elites continue to thrive. The crisis has significant implications for the region as well, as the return of refugees from Iran and Pakistan puts pressure on Afghanistan’s already limited resources and increases the risk of further instability. In summary, the situation is a clear demonstration of how the failure of the humanitarian sector can lead to the deepening of state fragility and prolong the existence of regional insecurity.