Nearly one in three Afghans is facing severe hunger as winter approaches, according to an assessment by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In a statement issued today, OCHA noted that, although food availability has improved thanks to increased rainfall, millions of families cannot afford to buy essential goods.

“Food is available, but millions of people cannot afford to buy it,” it stressed.

OCHA’s report highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis facing Afghanistan, citing widespread hunger, child malnutrition and the severe impact on livelihoods caused by years of drought.

More than 4 million children under the age of five will require treatment for malnutrition in 2027, the same source said.

Humanitarian organisations are stressing the need to provide Afghans with immediate assistance ahead of winter. However, OCHA emphasises that lasting progress will require long-term investment in local livelihoods, economic opportunities and public services that will help communities build resilience against future shocks.