WFP: Nearly 14 Million Afghans Facing Acute Hunger
Afghanistan’s hunger and malnutrition crisis is worsening as millions of people face rising food prices, unemployment and declining humanitarian assistance.
John Aylieff, WFP Country Director in Afghanistan, says nearly six million Afghans have been forcibly returned from neighboring countries over the past three years, while there are not enough job opportunities in the country to meet the livelihood needs of the returnees.
He added that conflict with Pakistan and the crisis in the Middle East have disrupted trade and supply routes, causing prices of essential food items in Afghanistan to rise by 20% to 30%.
“Poor people can no longer afford to buy food in the market. Nearly 14 million Afghans are currently facing acute hunger. In recent months, due to severe funding cuts, WFP has only been able to provide food assistance to one in every nine of them,” Aylieff said.
Aylieff also warned that the situation of children has deteriorated alarmingly. Acute child malnutrition, considered one of the deadliest forms of malnutrition, has reached critical levels in one-third of Afghanistan’s provinces, while the number of children being brought to health facilities for treatment has increased.
“It has now reached critical levels in one-third of the country’s provinces. The number of children arriving at health facilities in severe condition has increased sharply, and we are seeing this very clearly,” Aylieff said.
Abdul Zahoor Modaber, an economic analyst, said: “To reduce our dependence on foreign aid, we need to focus on several areas, including increasing the country’s production capacity, boosting GDP, and at the same time finding markets for investment.”
The WFP official stressed that the organization needs $500 million to continue its emergency food and nutrition programs over the next six months, particularly as winter approaches and pressure on vulnerable families and levels of hunger are expected to increase.
