Kabul, March 7 (NationPress) The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a grave warning regarding the escalating hunger crisis in Afghanistan, indicating that millions are experiencing severe food insecurity as tensions rise along the border with Pakistan.

The organization emphasized that a lack of adequate funding could hinder its ability to assist refugees escaping from Iran and Pakistan, as well as those displaced internally due to the border conflict.

“Afghanistan is grappling with one of the most critical hunger crises globally, with one in three Afghans—approximately 17.4 million individuals—urgently needing food aid. The situation for children is particularly alarming, with an estimated 3.7 million children likely to require treatment by 2026. If this new crisis continues to develop alongside current funding shortages, WFP will struggle to support families fleeing from Iran and Pakistan and those displaced by the ongoing border conflict,” stated John Aylieff, WFP Afghanistan Representative and Country Director.

Aylieff noted that the border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has escalated since February 26, resulting in the displacement of around 20,000 Afghan families from eastern, southeastern, and southern provinces.

He highlighted that in several Afghan provinces, including Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Laghman, Paktika, Paktya, Khost, Kandahar, Helmand, and Zabul, WFP has had to temporarily halt emergency, social protection, school feeding, and livelihood initiatives, impacting nearly 160,000 individuals.

With ongoing violence on Afghanistan's western border, fears of an influx of returnees from Iran are rising. Aylieff remarked, “We observed a similar increase in returns during heightened conflict in June 2025. For many, returning to Afghanistan entails confronting not only poverty, unemployment, and hunger but also renewed instability.”

“In 2025 alone, Afghanistan witnessed over 2.5 million returnees from Iran and Pakistan. Even before the latest conflicts, projections indicated a similar return rate in 2026; however, renewed violence may escalate these figures, further straining an already underfunded humanitarian response,” he added.

Aylieff mentioned that WFP could only provide food assistance to a small fraction of those in need during the winter response of 2026, warning that funding for emergency operations is expected to deplete within the next month, endangering millions of vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

“Our funding requirements for the upcoming six months total US$313 million. WFP calls on the international community to fulfill their commitments and not forsake Afghanistan in its time of greatest need,” he urged.