Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT News
KABUL – The UN World Food Programme (WFP) disclosed its decision to scale back aid to Afghanistan due to a severe budget shortage. The reduction in aid, affecting approximately 10 million people, comes at a critical time during the harsh winter season.
In a video statement released on Monday, the WFP emphasized the impact of the budget constraints, urging international organizations to step in and assist the people of Afghanistan during this challenging period. The organization highlighted that Afghanistan is among the eight countries globally facing the most severe food insecurity.
The WFP stressed that the Afghan population is currently grappling with the harsh realities of the cold season, further exacerbated by recent crises. Despite earlier announcements of a 25 million euro donation from the European Union to support Afghanistan, the WFP now faces limitations in providing essential aid.
Factors contributing to the heightened need include regime changes, migrant crises, recent earthquakes, water scarcity, climate change, and droughts. These challenges have disproportionately affected women and children, leading to an alarming increase in the overall level of need among Afghans.
In a separate report, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan highlighted the vulnerability of children to grave violations. The report underscores the critical situation faced by Afghan children amid the multifaceted challenges the country is confronting.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) reported that the European Union has contributed an additional 3 million euros to Afghanistan’s humanitarian aid. OCHA states that these funds will play a crucial role in enabling aid agencies to deliver essential assistance and protection to millions in need across the country.
As Afghanistan grapples with a complex web of challenges, the international community faces the urgent task of addressing the immediate needs of the Afghan people, particularly as winter intensifies the humanitarian crisis.
