disaster
Food security under pressure: Impacts of the Middle East Crisis and Pakistan Conflict on Afghanistan (June 2026)
By World Food Programme at ReliefWeb
· June 26, 2026
· 1 min read
Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan . Executive summary Afghanistan is facing multiple overlapping shocks. Large-scale returns are straining labour markets, border closures with Pakistan have disrupted trade routes, and the Middle East crisis has pushed up fuel, food and fertilizer prices for an alread
Key takeaway Between October 2025 and April 2026, the cost of the food basket rose by 10 percent while the proportion of households with acceptable food consumption fell from 28 percent to 20 percent.
Why this matters
The situation in Afghanistan highlights the complex interplay between regional conflicts, trade disruptions, and humanitarian crises. With 60 percent of trade volume now passing through Iran, the increased costs of food, fuel, and fertilizer are exacerbating the already dire food security situation. The 10 percent rise in the cost of the food basket between October 2025 and April 2026 has led to a decline in acceptable food consumption among households, from 28 percent to 20 percent. The projected surge in acute malnutrition, with 3.7 million children expected to suffer from wasting in 2026, underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian funding and support. As the crisis deepens, the potential for an additional 2.3 million people to become food insecure over six months poses a significant challenge for relief organizations and donors, who must navigate the complexities of regional politics and trade disruptions to deliver critical aid.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan . Executive summary Afghanistan is facing multiple overlapping shocks. Large-scale returns are straining labour markets, border closures with Pakistan have disrupted trade routes, and the Middle East crisis has pushed up fuel, food and fertilizer prices for an alread
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Food Programme at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .