The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that Afghanistan is facing “unprecedented levels” of food insecurity, malnutrition, water shortages and drought.
In a statement on Thursday, OCHA said that the spring season in Afghanistan is characterized by “flash floods, landslides and a spike in diseases”. This is happening in a context where Afghans are already facing “record-levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, water scarcity and drought-like conditions”.
OCHA said that “$717.4 million is needed between April and June 2023 to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people”. This funding will be used to ensure access to essential resources such as food, water, emergency aid, healthcare and education services.
OCHA has repeatedly called for “adequate and timely funding to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan”. The organization has said that with “sufficient financial backing, humanitarian partners can reduce large-scale hunger, prevent disease outbreaks and reduce the chances of women dying by giving birth”.
“‘The price of doing nothing has never been higher,'” OCHA said in a tweet.
OCHA estimates that “28 million individuals in Afghanistan require urgent humanitarian assistance”. The office has proposed a funding request of US$4.6 billion to address the needs of these individuals throughout the current year.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly since the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. The United Nations has said that Afghanistan is facing its “worst humanitarian crisis since the 1990s”.
The crisis is being driven by a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic collapse, the drought and the ongoing conflict.
The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan could worsen in the coming months. The organization has called for “urgent action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe”.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has pressed the need to address the unprecedented levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, water shortages, and drought-like conditions that have gripped the people of Afghanistan this spring.
“Spring season in Afghanistan is characterized by flash floods, landslides and spike in diseases – in a context where Afghans are facing record-levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, water scarcity, and drought-like conditions. To frontload aid, $717.4M is needed between April-June 2023.” UNOCHA tweeted on Thursday.
UNOCHA underlines the significance of this funding as it will provide vital assistance to the Afghanistan population. The allocated amount will be utilized to ensure access to essential resources such as food, water, emergency aid, and healthcare and education services.
Earlier this month, UNOCHA reiterated the need for adequate and timely funding to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. According to the organization, with sufficient financial backing, humanitarian partners can reduce large-scale hunger, prevent disease outbreaks, and reduce the chances of women dying by giving birth.
The organization warned in a tweet that “The price of doing nothing has never been higher.”
OCHA’s assessment reveals that 28 million individuals in Afghanistan require urgent humanitarian assistance. Consequently, the office has proposed a funding request of US$4.6 billion, aiming to address the needs of this number of individuals throughout the current year.
