Photo: WFP

China’s financial assistance enables WFP to provide food aid to 70,000 people in Afghanistan

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said that China’s financial assistance is enabling it to provide life-saving food assistance to 70,000 people in Afghanistan.

“WFP welcomes a contribution from the Government of the People’s Republic of China towards its emergency response in Afghanistan for 2023. The funding will enable WFP to provide life-saving food assistance to nearly 70,000 food-insecure people in areas struck by acute food insecurity.” The organization’s statement affirmed.

WFP also quoted Chinse Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wand Yu, as saying: “China and Afghanistan are good neighbors and friends. Since 2022, the Chinese government and people have donated large amounts of humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan to help the people overcome difficulties.”

“Having experienced war and famine, Chinese people know very well the importance of food, so this year China continues to cooperate with the World Food Program to provide food assistance to the people of Afghanistan through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.” Chinese Ambassador added.

Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP Afghanistan Country Director and Representative says that this year, WFP in Afghanistan is faced with an acute funding crisis and this timely contribution from the Chinese Government comes at a moment when continued support is most needed.

He further added that “Over 15 million people are estimated to be experiencing acute food insecurity across the country, and sustained humanitarian assistance is needed to keep already worrying hunger and malnutrition rates from further increasing.”

This year, according to the statement, WFP was forced to cut back its ration size for all families and reduce the number of beneficiaries by 8 million people, due to lack of funding. With this latest contribution, WFP plans to buy nearly 1,500 metric tons (mt) of wheat flour, 185 mt of yellow split peas, more than 130 mt of vegetable oil as well as 15 mt of salt. This will allow WFP to support nearly 70,000 families for two months.

The World Food Programme has said that in Afghanistan in 2022, the program has reached 23 million people, distributed 1.14 million metric tons of food, and US$ 325.8 million in cash transfers. Of the 23 million people assisted, 11.6 million were women and 12.3 million were children.