ReliefWeb

The country is now carrying the highest burden of IPC Phase 4 globally - more than 148,000 people entered into crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2025 alone.

Severe storms have rapidly flooded tents and torn through makeshift shelters. Children are sleeping in soaked clothing, with no protection from the cold and nowhere safe to go, warns IRC.

A staggering 55 million people are expected to endure crisis levels of hunger, or worse, in the June-August 2026 lean season. More than 13 million children are set to suffer from malnutrition in 2026.

For children, the impact of such harsh conditions is both physical and mental. Darkness and freezing temperatures intensify fear and stress, and can lead to, or exacerbate health conditions.

"As the winter season lingers on, more families will be on the doorstep of starvation and yet the humanitarian response in Afghanistan remains gravely under-funded," said IRC's Lisa Owen.

Already, conservative estimates projected that 200,000 children under five would die in 2025 due to these cuts, leading to the first rise in under-five child mortality this century.

“As we approach this catastrophic milestone, the world must not look away. Civilians have paid the highest price for a conflict they did not choose and need decisive international action."

Twelve months after the armed conflict in Catatumbo escalated sharply on 16th January 2025, the violent territorial dispute shows no sign of abating in this volatile region bordering Venezuela.