In a distressing development, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to remove an additional two million starving individuals from its food aid program in Afghanistan, exacerbating an already dire situation. This brings the total number of people deprived of assistance in the country to 10 million this year alone, according to WFP sources.
Due to a severe lack of funding, the WFP announced that it will only be able to provide emergency aid to a mere three million people per month. Hsiao Wei Lee, the Country Director for WFP in Afghanistan, expressed deep concern, stating that the organization is now faced with the difficult decision of choosing between the hungry and the famished, leaving millions of families uncertain about their next meal. The dwindling resources prevent the WFP from catering to all the individuals teetering on the brink of extreme deprivation.
The situation has been deteriorating over the past months. In March, the WFP was compelled to reduce food rations from 75% to 50% for communities experiencing emergency levels of hunger. This was followed by a complete cutoff of food assistance to eight million individuals in April and May.
The reduction in aid means that 1.4 million mothers and their children are no longer receiving specialized food designed to prevent malnutrition. As a result, the WFP anticipates a sharp increase in admissions to nutrition centers in the coming months as children slip deeper into starvation.
To address the crisis, the WFP has stated that it requires one billion US dollars over the next six months to provide life-saving food aid and nutrition to 21 million people, as well as support livelihoods. This funding would also enable the establishment of advanced food storage facilities for isolated communities during the harsh Afghan winter.
This announcement comes ahead of the 78th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, where world leaders will tackle major global developmental challenges, including hunger. With increasing needs worldwide, the WFP is urging donor governments to prioritize funding for humanitarian operations.
Afghanistan, a country plagued by decades of conflict, political instability, and economic challenges, is now facing a severe hunger crisis. The country heavily relies on international aid and humanitarian assistance, making the recent cuts by the WFP particularly alarming. Hunger, especially in conflict zones like Afghanistan, is expected to be a prominent topic of discussion at international forums.
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