Afghanistan is experiencing one of the most severe hunger crises on the planet, with millions of people facing emergency-level food shortages. The situation has been worsened by drastic cuts in international aid, restrictive policies imposed by the Taliban government, and a prolonged drought that has devastated crops.
According to the latest reports, nearly half of Afghanistan's population—over 20 million people—is now struggling to find enough to eat. Humanitarian organizations warn that without immediate assistance, the country could slide into a full-blown famine.
The BBC's team on the ground has documented the devastating impact: families are skipping meals, selling their belongings, and pulling children out of school to work or beg for food. In Herat province, mothers describe feeding their children only bread and tea, while in remote villages, malnutrition rates among children have skyrocketed.
Aid agencies say funding shortfalls have forced them to cut food rations by as much as 50%. The Taliban's restrictions on female aid workers have also hampered the delivery of assistance to vulnerable households.
"We are seeing people who have never needed help before now coming to us," said a local aid worker. "The international community must not turn its back on Afghanistan."
The crisis comes three years after the Taliban takeover and the withdrawal of US-led forces, which triggered a collapse of the economy and a freeze on foreign assets. Aid has been the primary lifeline for millions, but donor fatigue and competing global crises have reduced support.
As winter approaches, the situation is expected to worsen. The World Food Programme warns that Afghanistan faces a "catastrophic" hunger emergency unless funding is urgently restored.