Voices from Afghanistan’s Hunger Crisis

Hunger in Afghanistan is escalating rapidly, making it one of the world’s most severe hunger crises and ranking fourth globally for child acute malnutrition. As winter approaches, malnutrition among women and children - already at record highs - is expected to spike further. 

Behind this crisis are stories – of families who can no longer take their daily meals for granted, of children battling malnutrition, and of mothers who look around their homes and find nothing to feed their children. The needs are immense – but WFP’s resources are shrinking.

Among those facing the harsh realities of this crisis is Toor Jan, whose story reflects the daily struggle of millions across Afghanistan.

In Baghran District of Helmand Province, Toor Jan lives with his extended family in a region long affected by conflict and poverty. He is the sole provider for a large household, including four brothers and two sisters who suffer from physical disabilities and mental health issues. Toor Jan’s mother is bedridden and needs constant care, while he also looks after his five children.

His brother occasionally finds casual work, but the income is barely enough to buy bread. The family’s needs are overwhelming, and the burden falls mostly on Toor Jan.

Helmand is one of the most food-insecure provinces in southern Afghanistan. Many families face acute hunger, and some must choose who gets to eat each day. In this difficult environment, WFP’s emergency food assistance is the only hope for some of the most vulnerable families in the region.

Toor Jan’s family receives monthly food assistance from WFP. This support helps him meet basic food needs and allows him to focus on caring for his family.

Far from Helmand, in the mountainous reaches of Bamyan Province, another story of resilience unfolds—that of Ruqia.

Ruqia is 18 years old. After her father passed away, her mother remarried and no longer stays with Ruqia’s family. As the eldest sibling, Ruqia has taken on the responsibility of caring for her two younger brothers.

She lives with her siblings in a remote district perched high in the mountains – Waras district of Bamyan province. Life here is shaped by the altitude, and winter doesn’t wait for the calendar date, it arrives early, often before the rest of the country has even felt the winter chill.

She said: “We are not prepared at all for the cold.” With snow likely just weeks away, her family faces the harsh season with little protection.

This is Ruqia’s second time receiving WFP’s assistance, helping her meet the family’s basic needs.

Assisting families like Ruqia’s and countless others would not be possible without generous contributions from our partners like the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australia, Canada, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), EU Humanitarian Aid, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Private Sector, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In addition, thanks to the Republic of Korea for their contribution of rice towards WFP operations in Afghanistan.

Learn more about WFP’s work in Afghanistan: Afghanistan | World Food Programme (wfp.org)

By: Ziauddin Safi - Ziauddin.safi@wfp.org