Food is present in Afghan markets, but remains out of reach for millions of people — that is the central finding brought back by Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, following field visits to southern and northeastern Afghanistan. Briefing from Kabul, Ms. Cherevko said nearly 16 million Afghans are currently facing crisis-level hunger, with 3.4 million of them living in emergency conditions.
"I want to start with something that can get lost when we talk about Afghanistan through numbers: a harvest can improve, markets can have food, but families can still go hungry," she said, describing it as "one of the clearest takeaways" from her recent visits.
Record acute malnutrition levels for the August–October period have been recorded, according to the latest findings from the IPC, the UN-supported global food security monitor. The situation is expected to deteriorate further: hunger levels are projected to rise for around 19 million people once winter begins next month. "The outlook is deteriorating," Ms. Cherevko said.
The spokesperson identified the root drivers as years of conflict, economic hardship, drought and recurring shocks that have eroded families' capacity to cope. "I saw first-hand that this crisis is not simply about whether food exists, but whether people can afford it, whether they can earn an income, access basic services or whether they have anything left to fall back on when the next shock comes," she said.
Ms. Cherevko also pointed to the Taliban's systematic exclusion of women and girls from schools and society as a structural dimension shaping Afghanistan's long-term trajectory. She cited a UNICEF report warning that, if current restrictions continue, Afghanistan could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 female health workers by 2030. She noted that malnutrition is shaped by maternal health, access to healthcare, dietary diversity, education and the ability to earn a living, and that undermining these factors makes recovery harder in the future.
On the humanitarian response, UN agencies and their partners reached 8.3 million people with at least one form of assistance between January and July. UNICEF supports primary education and community-based learning; the World Food Programme delivers food aid and supports treatment for child malnutrition; and the World Health Organization provides essential healthcare to returnees and families in eastern Afghanistan.
Ms. Cherevko nonetheless stressed that aid alone is insufficient. "Humanitarian aid can and does save lives today," she said, "but only sustained, inclusive investment in livelihoods, services and economic opportunity can help people build lives that are less dependent on emergency assistance tomorrow." She identified agriculture, rural livelihoods, local markets, employment, water systems, health and nutrition services, and economic participation for women as the foundations requiring investment. "We must act before winter, not after families have exhausted their option," she cautioned.
This article is based on a primary source and has undergone editorial review prior to publication.
