The 2025 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is reported to be one of the most severe hunger crises of 2025. Over 10 million people need food assistance, and 3.5 million children are suffering from malnutrition.[1][2][3] The current crisis was caused due to several reasons, including economic collapse, climate problems, mass displacement, and a sharp decline in international aid. Humanitarian groups claim that in the near future, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and vulnerable families will be at serious risk because reduced funds have sharply cut food assistance programs.[3][4]
For decades Afghanistan has been facing food crises, with causes including ongoing conflicts, unstable governments, natural disasters and heavy dependence on international aid.[5][3] Since 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, the country has faced international sanctions and the freezing of US$3,500,000 of Afghan government assets by Joe Biden.[6] Humanitarian aid has also been severely reduced, with funding dropping from US$3,800,000,000 in 2022 to US$767,000,000.[7] All these have caused unstable social and economic conditions.[3][8] Afghanistan has also suffered several natural disasters that include droughts, earthquakes, and flash floods, causing significant damage to agricultural production.[2][9][10] The deportation of 1.35 million Afghani refugees from Iran and Pakistan, brought even more stress on the country.[11][12][13][14]
Scale
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), says that in 2025, Afghanistan is facing severe levels of food insecurity. About 17.2 million people, roughly 40% of the population, were classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or Phase 4 (Emergency), with 9.5 million projected to need urgent assistance between May and October. As of the latest report in September 2025, the situation has worsened to 22.9 million Afghans, over half of the population, needing humanitarian aid. This includes 12.6 million people categorized as “crisis” or “emergency” levels of acute food insecurity.[15][16]
The World Food Programme (WFP), can only supply aid to about 1 million people each month, due to of lack of funding. This has left over 8 million people without food assistance. Many children under five are severely malnourished, with about 3.5 million affected, and hospitals have reported a third of children have stunted growth.[17]
Causes
The 2025 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is caused by several reasons that are connected to one another.
Reduced funding
Recent years and especially the last one has seen a serious cut in funds of the international aid. According to the World Food Programme (WFP) it can only support about 1 million people each month, while millions more are left without aid. The UN's funds for Afghanistan in 2025 were cut by 15%, meaning less food, health, and nutrition services.[9][2][4]
Economic collapse
Since the Taliban returned to power and international sanctions were enforced on the country, its economy has rapidly declined. Unemployment is very high, the Afghan currency has lost its value, and food prices have risen sharply, leaving families unable to afford basic products.[2][3]
Climatechange
Afghanistan has been suffering from the effects of extreme climate change in recent years. Severe droughts, along with floods and irregular rainfall, have destroyed crops, forcing farming families to leave their land. As a result many communities are left dependent on imports and aid.[2][15][3]
Return of refugees
In 2025, over 1.5 million Afghans were sent back from Iran and Pakistan, often with no resources, adding pressure to already scarce supplies.[3][14]
Access restrictions
The severe laws on women's rights in Afghanistan have reduced the numbers of female humanitarian workers in several sectors, limiting aid delivery, especially to women and children.[18][19]
Humanitarian impact
The hunger crisis has a severe effect on the country's population.[11] According to the United Nations, more and more young children are suffering from malnutrition, which may lead to stunted growth and child deaths.[4] Pregnant women and mother who are still breastfeeding, are also at high risk as they do not eat enough healthy food. The situation is worse for refugees returning to the country and displaced people as they are without jobs and homes.[4]
In Kabul and other cities, many people are begging for food, and families are forced to live in hunger.[4] Nutrition centers are overcrowded, and the World Food Programme cannot take in new mothers and children who need help due to funding restrictions.[2][11] Aid groups warn that without more support, the coming winter could push millions into famine.[11][2][20]
International and local responses
Even though the 2025 hunger crisis in Afghanistan is causing great international concern, efforts to provide sufficient aid have encountered many problems because of cuts in funds, problems in transport and aid delivery, as well as government restrictions. The World Food Programme has provided limited food aid, while UNICEF and its partners have run nutrition programs for children and mothers.[16][21][22]
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