As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the World Food Programme (WFP) is sounding the alarm over the deepening hunger crisis in Afghanistan, where one in five people is facing acute food insecurity.
In a message commemorating UN Day, WFP Afghanistan said it has stood by the Afghan people for more than 60 years — delivering food aid, rebuilding livelihoods, and helping communities “stand on their own feet.” The agency emphasized that ongoing support from the international community is essential to maintaining what it called a “lifeline” for millions of Afghans.
“Hunger still grips Afghanistan,” WFP warned, as funding shortfalls and rising humanitarian needs threaten to derail decades of progress.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in his official UN Day message, underscored the role of the UN as a global force for peace, dignity, and development. “We the peoples of the United Nations…” he began, quoting the preamble to the UN Charter, calling it a living promise that has inspired generations.
Guterres acknowledged the scale of current global crises — from war to climate breakdown to unchecked technologies — and said the world must recommit to multilateral action. “This is no time for timidity or retreat,” he said. “Now, more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone.”
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, international aid has drastically declined, while sanctions, drought, and economic collapse have pushed millions deeper into poverty. According to the WFP, more than 15 million people in the country face food insecurity, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.
