The hunger crisis in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is facing one of the worst hunger crises on earth with 4.7 million people at emergency levels of food insecurity - one step away from famine.
Nearly one million children are expected to require treatment for severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition, in 2026.
Sahil’s story
Afsana, 20, lives in a remote village with no water supply and no irrigated land in the Herat province of Afghanistan.
When her 7-month-old son, Sahil, began losing weight and turning pale, Afsana recognized the signs of malnutrition at once. Years earlier she had lost a son, Allawaddin, to the same condition.
“It was heartbreaking.” She tells us about the trauma of losing Allawaddin, and shares her fear that Sahil may die too.
Without the IRC's local clinic, Afsana says she would not have known what to do. She had no money for a private doctor or transport to reach one.
At the IRC clinic, Sahil received medicines, nutritional supplements and a regimen of therapeutic food. Now that he is recovering, Afsana says he is starting to say his first words, and she is starting to feel hopeful about his future.
“As my child grows up, I will send him to school so that he may become a doctor... That is my wish for him.”
You can help children like Sahil. Donate to the IRC to help provide lifesaving care in Afghanistan, Sudan, Gaza, and more than 40 countries.
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The IRC in Afghanistan
The IRC has worked in Afghanistan since 1988 and operates across 10 provinces, delivering health, nutrition, education, clean water and economic support. Its integrated health and nutrition programme in Herat and Badghis screens and treats malnourished children and supports pregnant and breastfeeding women through static facilities and mobile teams. Since October 2025, IRC teams have reached 450,000 people.
Nearly all of our staff members are Afghans ingrained in the communities they serve. Our local staff and their connection with the communities we serve is one of the reasons why the IRC has been able to stay through crisis after crisis, often when other organizations have had to pull out or stop providing services.
Why support the IRC
When conflict and disaster strike, we help people survive, recover, and rebuild.
We go where others don't. We specialize in getting aid to people in need, working in remote regions, fragile states and dangerous conflict zones.
We help in crisis and beyond. Our work doesn't stop when the crisis does—we stay until people are back on their feet.
Every £1 is accounted for. And we share what we learn so the entire sector can do the same.
