What does “chronic food insecurity” mean in humanitarian aid?
Chronic food insecurity is persistent or recurring inability to meet food needs over a long period.
What the figure or term means
Long-term poverty, limited livelihoods, degraded assets, and weak services can sustain chronic deprivation in Afghanistan.
A household may face chronic hardship and then enter an acute crisis after a shock.
Acute and chronic indicators should not be added as though they were separate people.
When the term affects eligibility, safety, funding, or program design, check the complete cited standard rather than relying on a short definition.
How to use this information responsibly
Humanitarian terms are useful only when their technical meaning is preserved. These explainers translate common language without replacing the source standards used by professional responders.
Organizations may apply a term under a specific policy, assessment framework, or program design. Read the cited standard before using a glossary page for an operational decision.
Check the underlying information.
Editorial standard: This page is reviewed by a person, sourced to Famidi records or authoritative references, and revised when the program or underlying guidance changes. It does not replace legal, tax, medical, or financial advice.