The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has once again warned of an increase in hunger in Afghanistan, saying that almost half of Afghanistan’s population is facing acute hunger.
According to a WFP report, the prolonged drought and deep economic crisis will threaten the livelihoods of millions of people across Afghanistan.
“19.7 million people, almost half of Afghanistan’s population, are facing acute hunger according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis conducted in January and February 2022 by Food Security and Agriculture Cluster partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and many NGOs,” the report reads.
The report further added that humanitarian assistance averted a catastrophe in the harsh winter months – but hunger continues across the country at unprecedented levels.
The report predicts that the outlook for June-November 2022 sees a slight improvement in the food security situation, with a reduction in the number of people facing acute food insecurity to 18.9 million people.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy says that is considering a strategic and a food insecurity plan to solve the challenges which children face in the country.
“In the permanent economic strategy of the Ministry of Economy, the rebuilding of Afghanistan’s infrastructure is included,” Aman Nazari, deputy of the Ministry of Economy.
“I can do any kind of work as an architect. But there is no work. Now I work as a vendor on the street,” said a street worker.
“I am a widow and I am begging here. I lost my husband eight months ago,” a female beggar said.
Meanwhile, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) recently said that the latest assessment of the International Labour Organization (ILO) shows that in the last three months of 2021 in Afghanistan, 500,000 people have lost their jobs.
The World Food Programme warned that if the funds asked for by the organization are not immediately provided by the donors, it may halt operations in Afghanistan.
This comes as Afghanistan is facing a severe humanitarian catastrophe with millions of people suffering from starvation and a lack of basic needs.
The Islamic Emirate stressed that the distribution of aid should be conducted through the domestic institutions to ensure transparency.
“Over half of all Afghans – 23 million people – need emergency food assistance. Yet a lack of funds threaten to grind operations to a halt,” WFP said on Twitter.
Based on the available numbers of the WFP, around 12 million Afghans have been provided with food materials within the last month. The WFP said it needed $1.6 billion to continue its aid for the people who are in need in Afghanistan.
“There are no problems between the aid organizations and Islamic Emirate with the distribution of aid. I hope this problem will be solved soon,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
This comes as the officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock suggested that the distribution of aid be transparent and distributed through the organizations active inside Afghanistan.
“It is better that the international aid be provided in cooperation with the domestic organizations to reach those who deserve the aid,” said Musbahuddin, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.
Earlier, analysts expressed concerns that the tensions in Ukraine would distract the attention of the world from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health ensured that corruption and transparency in the process of providing the country’s health services will be prevented.—Tolonews
