An estimated 6.5 million children in Afghanistan – or nearly three out of ten – will face crisis or emergency levels of hunger this year as the country feels the immediate impacts of floods, the long term effects of drought and the return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran, said Save the Children in a statement this week.

New figures forecast that 28% of the population – or about 12.4 million people – will face acute food insecurity before October. Of those, nearly 2.4 million are predicted to experience emergency levels of hunger, which is one level below famine.

The figures show a slight improvement from the last report in October 2023, but underline the continuing need for assistance, with poverty affecting one in two Afghans.

Torrential rain and flash floods this month in Northern Afghanistan have killed more than 400 people, destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and turned farmland to mud.

Children in the flood hit areas have limited access to clean water, with some reporting stomach problems, Save the Children said.

In addition, an estimated 2.9 million children under the age of five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2024.

Dr Nawid who works for a Save the Children health team in Northern Afghanistan said: “These people face financial problems. From an agricultural standpoint, they have land but don’t have water or adequate land for farming – they are jobless. These things affect children.

“When children are affected, they may not be able to go to school or may become busy working to find food for their homes. They become deprived of their rights or become ill and malnourished. All these problems are affecting children.”

The slight improvement in the numbers of children expected to experience acute hunger is linked to widespread humanitarian assistance and a projected improved harvest, among other factors – but food aid will decline this year due to funding cuts.

The European Union has pledged €200,000 ($217,000) to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to families affected by the widespread flooding that hit large parts of the country over the past weeks.

The aid will benefit 28,000 people in some of the most affected provinces, particularly in the western, northern and eastern regions, the EU said in a statement Tuesday.

The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and responds to an Emergency Appeal from the IFRC to fund critical interventions.

The emergency response includes the provision of health care services, shelter items, dignity kits and household items such as blankets, jerricans, tarpaulins, and kitchen sets.

Multipurpose cash grants will also be provided to ensure they can meet their daily basic needs.

The latest contribution comes on top of the aid package of €400,000, channeled earlier this month in response to the floods.

Since 10 May, heavy rainfall has been affecting northern and northeastern Afghanistan, causing widespread floods and mudslides that have resulted in casualties and extensive damage.

According to the United Nations and other media reports, more than 300 people are estimated to have died.

As thousands of houses are also destroyed or damaged, a large number of people are displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance. The floods of this spring have affected 24 out of a total of 34 provinces in Afghanistan.

The Russian Foreign and Justice Ministries have called on President Vladimir Putin to remove the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) from Moscow’s terrorist list, Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told TASS.

According to him, this position was supported by a number of government bodies.

He said: “This must be done. Without this, it will be premature to talk about recognition. Therefore, work on this issue continues. All considerations have been reported to the top leadership of Russia. We are waiting for a decision.”

According to him, the Islamic Emirate government has come a long way towards being recognized since it came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

“But there are still a few hurdles to overcome, after which the Russian leadership will make a decision,” Kabulov pointed out.

In another development, the IEA has confirmed its participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Kabulov told Rossiya-24 TV.

“The Taliban (IEA) government’s labor minister and the head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will take part in the St. Petersburg economic forum,” he said.

“I expect that they and the accompanying Afghan business people will agree with Russian and other foreign partners on establishing cooperation,” Kabulov said.

“As for the Russian side, I have already mentioned that such cooperation is already in place, but its potential has not been exhausted and wider possibilities exist,” he added.

“I expect that the Afghan delegation will make the most of this chance to strengthen and expand cooperation both with Russian business and with other friendly countries,” he said.