World Food Programme warns of budget shortfall in Afghanistan

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It has been reported by Khaama Press that the World Food Programme (WFP) is requesting one billion dollars to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The organization stated that they can provide food assistance to one in every ten Afghan citizens in need. In a statement posted on its social media site, the WFP warned again about the budget gap in Afghanistan.

This year alone, 10 million Afghans have been deprived of humanitarian assistance, according to reports by the World Food Programme. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also warned about the decline and discontinuance of health services for those in need in Afghanistan due to budget constraints.

It is important to note that the World Food Programme previously indicated that it needed one billion dollars to assist 21 million people. With over 20 million Afghans at risk of starvation, the situation is dire. Several humanitarian organizations have issued warnings about funding cuts and a potential humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan as poverty and hunger continue to worsen.

Unfortunately, Khaama Press reported that only around USD 1 billion of the required USD 3.23 billion for humanitarian help has been provided so far.

Afghanistan, a country heavily reliant on aid, has lost Western donor support with the Taliban’s return to power following the US and NATO pullout in August 2021. The Afghan economy swiftly collapsed, which has forced self-sufficient Afghans to seek humanitarian aid to survive. Due to widespread human rights violations, the Taliban’s regime has been under international isolation.

It is worth mentioning that the resurgence of the Taliban in August 2021 has dealt a significant setback to the country’s educational system. Girls have been deprived of access to education, and seminaries or religious schools have gradually filled the void left by schools and universities. Afghanistan’s women have been facing numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the war-torn country have no access to education, employment, and public spaces.