UN Women says women and girls in Afghanistan make up 60 percent of those who may face food insecurity as conflict in the Middle East escalates.
In a report, the agency said that by the end of 2026, an additional 11.7 million women and girls in 28 countries, including Afghanistan, could face food insecurity.
UN Women also said that around 95 percent of women in Afghanistan are outside the labour market.
The report said that around 80 percent of employed women work in vulnerable jobs.
The agency added that rising energy, fertilizer, transport and food costs caused by disruptions to trade routes could put further pressure on families and humanitarian operations.
To reduce the effects of food insecurity, the agency said women must retain access to food and livelihood resources, and their needs and experiences should be given greater consideration in response programmes.
It also called for tensions to be reduced and international law to be respected.
The United Nations had previously projected that more than 17 million people in Afghanistan would face “acute food insecurity” this year, with the crisis disproportionately affecting women and children.
The UN requested $1.71 billion to address the situation, but less than 20 percent of the funding had been secured in the first half of this year.
