Content to die': Afghanistan's hunger crisis worsened by winter, aid cuts

KABUL — “We Are Content With Death,” Says Afghan Family Facing Hunger After Deportation

In the dim glow of a single bulb inside their tent on the outskirts of Kabul, Samiullah and his wife, Bibi Rehana, sit down to dry bread and tea—their only meal of the day. They are joined by their five children and a three-month-old grandchild.

“We have reached a point where we are content with death,” said 55-year-old Samiullah, whose family—along with two older sons aged 18 and 20 and their wives—was deported by neighboring Iran and Pakistan over the past year.

“Day by day, things are getting worse,” he added after returning to a war-torn country where the United Nations World Food Programme estimates that 17 million people are facing acute hunger following major cuts in international aid.

“Whatever happens to us has happened, but at least our children’s lives should be better.”

A Harsh Return

Samiullah was one of many Afghan returnees speaking out after protests in Iran led to a major crackdown by the country’s clerical establishment, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths in the violence that followed.

He said his family was forced to leave their modest home in Iran almost overnight. After a raid by Iranian authorities, they were arrested and deported, returning to Afghanistan with only a few belongings and no savings to support them through the winter.

Reuters was unable to reach Iranian authorities for comment.

Aid and Support Limited

“Migrants who are newly returning to the country receive assistance as much as possible,” said Afghan administration spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, citing help in transportation, housing, healthcare, and food.

He added that eradicating poverty quickly is impossible in a nation that has endured 40 years of conflict and the loss of much of its revenue and resources, despite ongoing rebuilding efforts.

“Economic programs take time and do not have an immediate impact on people’s lives,” Mujahid said.

Mass Deportations Worsen Crisis

The World Food Programme reports that Iran and Pakistan have expelled more than 2.5 million Afghans through large repatriation programs.

Iran intensified deportations last year amid accusations that some Afghans were spying for Israel. Authorities cited security concerns and resource shortages as reasons for the expulsions.

Pakistan also accelerated deportations, claiming the Taliban was sheltering militants responsible for cross-border attacks—claims Afghanistan has denied.

No Income, No Aid

As winter spreads across Afghanistan’s arid landscape, job opportunities have dried up. The influx of returning Afghans has increased the country’s population by nearly 10 percent, according to John Aylieff, WFP country director.

“Many of these Afghans were working in Iran and Pakistan, and they were sending back remittances,” he told Reuters. “Those remittances were a lifeline for Afghanistan.”

Cuts to global aid programs since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House have reduced funding for organizations like the WFP. Other donor countries have also scaled back support, putting millions at risk worldwide.

“Last year was the biggest malnutrition surge ever recorded in Afghanistan, and sadly the prediction is that it’s going to get worse,” Aylieff said, estimating that 200,000 more children could suffer acute malnutrition in 2026.

Long Lines, Limited Supplies

At the WFP distribution site in Bamiyan, about 111 miles from Kabul, stacks of rice and jugs of palm oil are ready for distribution. But despite the supplies, the long lines of desperate families show how insufficient the aid is.

“I am forced to manage the winter with these supplies. Sometimes we eat, sometimes we don’t,” said Zahra Ahmadi, a 50-year-old widowed mother of eight daughters, receiving aid for the first time.

Health Clinics Overwhelmed

At the Qasaba Clinic in Kabul, mothers soothe their children while waiting for medicine and supplements.

“Compared to the time when there were no migrants, the number of our patients has now doubled,” said Dr. Rabia Rahimi Yadgari.

The clinic treats about 30 cases of malnutrition each day, but the supplements are not enough to support families who previously relied on WFP aid and hospital support.

Laila, a 30-year-old mother, said her son, Abdul Rahman, showed signs of recovery after taking supplements.

“But after some time, he loses the weight again,” she said.

After the Taliban takeover, she added, “My husband lost his government job, and gradually our economic situation collapsed. Life never remains the same.”

A Nation Struggling to Survive

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in July 2021, after 20 years of war, allowed the Taliban to take control of Kabul. Since then, the country has faced a deep economic crisis, worsening poverty, and a growing humanitarian emergency.

As dusk falls and temperatures drop, Samiullah brings in firewood while Bibi Rehana lights a small stove for warmth.

“At night, when it gets very cold, my children say, ‘Father, I’m cold, I’m freezing,’” Samiullah said. “I hold them in my arms and say, ‘It’s OK.’ What choice do we have?”

“When I worked in Iran, at least I could provide a full meal. Here, there is neither work nor livelihood.” -Reporting by Mohammad Ynunus Yawar and Sayed Hassib; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Clarence Fernandez/Reuters