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WFP needs $760 million for food aid in Afghanistan
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a dire need for $760 million in food assistance for Afghanistan over the next six months, amid growing international concerns about widespread poverty in the country.
In a recent post on X, the organization stated that millions of people in Afghanistan are suffering from severe hunger, with over half of the estimated 43 million population forced to reduce their food intake.
Findings from the World Food Programme indicate that at least 16 million people in Afghanistan experience daily concerns about having enough food.
Afghanistan faces one of the most serious humanitarian crises globally, a crisis that is typically exacerbated during winter due to road closures.
Forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, such as Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, has intensified, with more than half a million Afghans deported by Pakistani officials since October 2023, despite harsh winter conditions.
Many of the returnees are confronted with numerous challenges, including inadequate access to water, shelter, and medical care, along with a scarcity of job opportunities and an uncertain future.
Furthermore, the severe earthquake that struck Herat province in October last year further exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children, who faced heightened levels of malnutrition.
However, the officials in the Ministry of Economy say that they do not agree with the statistics published by foreign organizations. The ministry has also said that the international community should stop worrying about Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation and instead lift banking sanctions and release the country’s frozen assets.
Economic experts consider the continuation of international aid to the people of Afghanistan to be effective and say that this aid should continue until the country’s economic situation improves.
According to them, when the international community starts working on development projects, the process of poverty alleviation will be accelerated.
The World Food Program warned last year that Afghanistan is at the highest risk of famine and needs $800 million dollars.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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