The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a $13.5 million contribution from the government of Japan to support humanitarian programs for the people of Afghanistan.
In a statement on Friday, February 2, WFP stated that the funding will help the organization deliver emergency food and nutrition assistance to those facing food insecurity, facilitate improved learning for school children, and maintain the operational capabilities of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS).
While Afghanistan may have slipped from the headlines due to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the country remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. More than two-thirds of the population struggles with food insecurity, and an alarming nearly 1 million children confront acute malnutrition, with women and girls disproportionately affected.
The UN estimates that in 2024, over half of Afghanistan’s population, about 23.7 million people, will require humanitarian aid. To address this pressing need, the UN has called for $3 billion in funding to deliver life-saving assistance to these vulnerable populations.
WFP quoted the ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian food security assistance in Afghanistan, where nearly a third of the population is uncertain about the source of their next meal. “Japan continues to stand with the people of Afghanistan and also invests into the future of the country through our support to WFP’s work with primary school girl and boy students,” he said.
With this contribution, The UN agency intends to reach almost 630,000 individuals facing food insecurity and provide food assistance, in addition to treating over 42,000 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children. “Almost 36,000 school children in primary school will receive fortified biscuits as daily school snacks to help them stay healthy and learn better.”
WFP Country Director in Afghanistan, Hsiao-Wei Lee, expressed gratitude, stating, “This contribution comes at a critical moment for the many families across the country who are less prepared than ever to face the harsh Afghan winter when hunger bites hardest.”
According to WFP, the government of Japan has contributed a total of $73 million over the past three years to humanitarian programs for Afghanistan.
The country’s humanitarian crisis was exacerbated in October by four 6.3-magnitude earthquakes hitting the western Herat province, resulting in the deaths and injuries of thousands and widespread destruction. Many survivor families remain in need of life-saving services and support amid the cold winter in Western Afghanistan.
Last year, the UN launched a record-breaking $4.6 billion appeal for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, aiming to support millions of people with essential needs like food, shelter, medical care, and more. However, due to evolving circumstances, the appeal was revised down to $3.2 billion in early June. As of November, only 39.6% of the revised amount had been raised. The World Food Program (WFP) reported that 10 million people in Afghanistan lost access to vital food assistance between May and November 2023 due to a critical funding shortfall.
