WFP warns 10 million Afghans at risk of hunger this summer due to sharp aid cuts

WFP warns that 10 million Afghans face hunger this summer, with aid cuts limiting assistance to just one million vulnerable people.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm that over 10 million Afghans will face hunger during the summer of 2025, due to worsening food insecurity and limited humanitarian access. In a statement released on Monday, July 7, the agency stated it is currently able to assist only 1 million of those in urgent need.

This massive gap in aid coverage stems from critical funding shortfalls. The WFP said it is being forced to prioritize assistance for communities suffering the most from extreme poverty, while climate-affected regions—those hit by droughts and flash floods—will also receive focused support.

According to the agency, unless additional funding arrives soon, food insecurity will escalate sharply beyond the summer months, particularly in isolated and rural areas. “We are running out of resources, and we are running out of time,” a WFP spokesperson warned.

The food crisis is being worsened by a drastic 40% reduction in overall humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan in 2025, as reported by several UN-affiliated organizations. These cuts are impacting not just food distribution, but also access to clean water, healthcare, and education for vulnerable communities.

The WFP called on the international donor community to step up efforts immediately to avert what it describes as a preventable humanitarian disaster.

Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis has deepened significantly since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, which triggered widespread economic collapse and reduced international engagement. Ongoing political instability, sanctions, and a lack of inclusive governance have left over 28 million people in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.

The 2025 UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan originally requested $3.6 billion, but as of mid-year, less than half that amount has been received. Relief organizations say that without immediate intervention, the country may see rising malnutrition, displacement, and social unrest in the coming months.

Climate change further compounds the crisis, as increasingly erratic weather patterns continue to affect Afghanistan’s agriculture-dependent population, leaving millions with no reliable access to food or livelihood.

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