NEW YORK — Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening at an alarming pace, with severe food shortages, shrinking aid programs, and economic hardship forcing some families into desperate survival measures, according to United Nations officials.
Addressing the UN Security Council, senior humanitarian officials warned that nearly half of Afghanistan’s population requires urgent assistance, while critical relief efforts remain drastically underfunded.
Families Reportedly Selling Children to Survive
As hunger spreads across the country, some families are reportedly being driven to sell their children in exchange for money to buy food and basic necessities.
In Afghanistan’s remote Ghor province, parents say they are struggling to provide even the most basic meals. One mother described the family’s situation, saying, “All we have to eat is bread and hot water.”
Fathers in the region have reported agreeing to give away young daughters because they can no longer afford food, medicine, or other essentials needed to keep their families alive.
Humanitarian organizations say these heartbreaking decisions reflect the growing desperation faced by many Afghan households as economic conditions continue to deteriorate.
Aid Shortages Threaten Millions
The United Nations has warned that millions of Afghans remain at risk of severe hunger and potential famine if additional funding is not secured quickly.
The UN’s humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan requires $1.71 billion to support 17.5 million people this year, but only a fraction of that amount has been received. As a result, aid agencies have been forced to scale back operations, leaving millions without assistance.
According to UN officials, humanitarian reach has declined significantly compared with previous years, with millions fewer people receiving food, healthcare, and emergency support.
Rising Child Deaths and Malnutrition
Hospitals and aid organizations have reported increasing numbers of children suffering from severe malnutrition and preventable illnesses.
Medical facilities across the country are struggling with shortages of supplies, medicines, and funding, making it difficult to treat vulnerable patients.
The World Food Programme has warned that famine-prevention programs serving approximately 1.5 million people could face cuts if additional funding is not provided soon.
International Community Urged to Act
UN officials have called on the international community to increase humanitarian support, warning that the crisis is deepening as poverty, food insecurity, and restrictions affecting women continue to undermine the country’s recovery.
Without urgent intervention, aid agencies fear that more Afghan families could be pushed toward extreme coping mechanisms as they struggle to survive one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
