WFP warns 9.5 million Afghans face severe food insecurity
UN agency seeks $650 million in urgent aid as Kabul residents plead for jobs amid deepening poverty and malnutrition crisis
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that 9.5 million people in Afghanistan are suffering from severe food insecurity, urging the international community to provide $650 million in emergency funding to sustain operations through the end of 2025.
The UN agency said the funding shortfall threatens critical life-saving assistance, especially for children, mothers, and female-headed households.
According to Tolonews, at least 4.6 million Afghan mothers and children are currently affected by malnutrition, and two-thirds of households led by women are unable to meet basic nutritional needs.
Meanwhile, economic hardship continues to grip the capital. In Kabul, day laborers say work is scarce, and household expenses are becoming unmanageable.
Abdul Rahim, a resident, said he waits daily at a city intersection from dawn to dusk in hopes of being hired for manual work — but usually finds employment only once a week.
“There’s house rent, electricity bills, and cold weather. We don’t know what to do,” he said.
Other residents echoed similar concerns. Nematullah called on the caretaker Taliban-led government to provide jobs, while Abdul Basir urged authorities to assist daily wage earners struggling to feed their families. “People are unemployed and live below the poverty line,” Nematullah said.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy acknowledged the vital role played by international organizations like WFP. Deputy Minister Abdul Latif Nazari stated that humanitarian assistance remains essential to stabilizing the country and called on foreign donors to continue supporting agencies working on the ground.
“The role of the World Food Programme is beneficial in providing aid. We ask the international community to support such effective organizations so assistance can reach the Afghan people,” he said.
The crisis comes amid Afghanistan’s broader economic collapse, driven by years of conflict, prolonged drought, Western sanctions, and the refusal of most countries to recognize the Taliban-led government — a combination that has severely restricted aid and financial flows since 2021.
Without fresh funding, aid agencies warn, food insecurity could deepen further in the coming months.
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