KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Kingdom has contributed £40 million (over $50 million) to support the World Food Programme (WFP)’s humanitarian programs, including emergency food assistance and malnutrition treatment in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 14, WFP welcomed the UK’s recent contribution, noting that it will aid over 1.2 million people with emergency food assistance and provide malnutrition treatment for nearly 290,000 children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
The funding will also enable 77,000 food-insecure individuals to engage in asset creation projects across Afghanistan, helping communities become more productive and resilient to the effects of the climate crisis.
“The UK remains committed to supporting the people of Afghanistan,” said UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer. “This new funding to the World Food Programme will help more than one million people with vital emergency food and nutrition assistance,” he added.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the humanitarian situation has worsened dramatically, turning the country into one of the world’s most critical crises. The country also remains highly vulnerable to frequent natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides, due to its mountainous terrain and ongoing environmental degradation.
According to the UN, approximately 23.7 million people in Afghanistan, which is over half of the population and includes more than 50% women and girls, required humanitarian assistance this year.
Earlier, Save the Children reported that over 6 million children in Afghanistan, or about 60 percent, will face emergency levels of hunger this year, with nearly 3 million suffering from acute malnutrition.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies have grappled with a significant funding shortfall over the past three years. The UN reported earlier that only 25% of its $3.06 billion appeal for Afghanistan this year has been funded so far.
“WFP often remains the last lifeline for Afghan women and families who can barely make ends meet and need food assistance to survive,” said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP Country Director in Afghanistan.
“With support from our partners like the United Kingdom, WFP can reach some of the most vulnerable people but importantly also continue to build a more resilient, food secure future for rural communities,” she added.
WFP noted that the UK’s latest contribution follows nearly $49 million given last year, making the country the second-largest donor to WFP’s humanitarian programs in Afghanistan this year.
According to WFP, the United States remains the largest donor to its humanitarian programs in Afghanistan, contributing $280 million recently and over $1 billion in the past three years.
