Winters usually hit hard in Afghanistan, but this year Afghans are being warned about the upcoming starvation that is said to be as extreme as the weather, if not worse.

Last year, the United Nations said that at least nine million Afghans were in need of humanitarian aid due to the winter. This year, the number has climbed to 23 million. “The next six months are going to be catastrophic. It is going to be hell on earth,” said David Beasley, director of the World Food Programme. 

Afghans are expecting the winter weather to be so extreme that it could cause more than half of the population to face starvation and famine. Many Afghans have already been struggling to get food with more than half the population, about 22.8 million people, facing severe food insecurity. In addition, the WFP says that 3.2 million children under five face critical malnutrition.

With the upcoming winter added it’ll make the situation disastrous.“95 percent of the people don’t have enough food, and now we’re looking at 23 million people marching toward starvation,” said Beasly.

In recent months, basic ingredients like cooking oil and wheat have soared in prices. This has caused many desperate Afghans to be forced to sell their possessions to buy food. Many, desperate to find anything to put in their mouths, are looking through trash cans trying to find leftover food for themselves and their families. 

“It has been five months since I have received my wages,” a teacher in Herat told the BBC at the end of October. “Life is tough. I am selling whatever I have at home. We are selling our animals, cutting our trees to sell wood.”

Across cities, towns and villages, virtually no family can afford sufficient food. 3.2 million children are expected to suffer.

The WFP is doing everything in its power to help. They have been sending more food than normal to help with the shortage.