The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that Afghanistan could face drought and famine this year and that 17 million people could be at risk of facing hunger.

Nick Bishop, an emergency response officer in Afghanistan, said this was due to reduced levels of snow and rain this winter across the country.

Bishop suggested that a humanitarian response plan must be put in place.

“Afghanistan’s agriculture is heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and snowmelt… so the humanitarian response plan for this year is suggesting that as many as 17 million Afghans – about 42 percent of the total population – will be impacted by drought and famine,” Bishop said.

The IOM stated that in 2020 the organization has recorded its largest-ever return for undocumented Afghan migrants, with almost a million returnees.

“That is almost double the previous year,” the IOM said.

Besides the returnees, thousands of internally displaced people, due to ongoing conflicts in large parts of the country, are struggling with unemployment.

Bishop said the situation of Afghans struggling with unemployment could get even worse given the shortage of rain and snow in Afghanistan in the past few months.

“Peace negotiations between the Taliban and Afghan officials have stalled. Violence across the country is on the rise and experts predict a possible drought on the way,” the IOM said in the statement.