KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The World Food Programme (WFP) announced a $280 million contribution from the United States to support humanitarian programs in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 14, WFP welcomed the U.S. contribution, noting that it will provide life-saving food assistance to over 3 million hungry people and treat more than 900,000 malnourished children and women.
“Large-scale humanitarian assistance over the past two years has helped pull back millions of Afghans from the brink of starvation and we are now seeing an improvement in the overall food security situation, “said Hsiao-Wei Lee, Country Director of WFP Afghanistan.
“However, these improvements remain fragile and could reverse if assistance does not continue for the most vulnerable communities. We are grateful to USAID’s continued, steadfast support to WFP and the Afghan people,” she 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, over half of the population, including 12.4 million children, required humanitarian assistance this year.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies have grappled with a significant funding shortfall over the past three years. The UN reported that only 25% of its $3.06 billion appeal for Afghanistan this year has been funded so far.
In its statement, WFP expressed concern over the sharp increase in malnutrition in Afghanistan, noting that the number of children admitted to health centers nearly tripled last year compared to the previous year.
Zainab, a nutrition staff member at a WFP-supported clinic in Kabul, was quoted in the statement: “Many of the women bringing their children to the clinic are from poor families who cannot provide their children with a proper diet or care and the children become malnourished.”
“The specialized nutritious food we provide helps the children recover and gain weight, usually within two months – but we also teach them how to feed and take care of the children so they don’t fall ill again,” she added.
The WFP noted that the latest U.S. contribution follows over $1 billion in aid over the past three years, making the U.S. the largest donor to WFP in Afghanistan.
