KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea has pledged $5 million to support the World Food Programme’s (WFP) humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 31, WFP welcomed the contribution, saying that it will enable the organization to provide food assistance to 37,000 food-insecure individuals and nutritious food to 46,000 mothers. The funding will also provide 47,000 primary school children with school snacks and support over 860 families in activities aimed at improving their livelihoods.
“Winter in Afghanistan is unforgiving. With no work and no food, families face the impossible choice to heat their homes or feed their children,” said H.E. Moon Sung-hwan, Chargé d’affaires, Republic of Korea to Afghanistan.
“The Republic of Korea stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan with our continued support to families most in need,” he added.
South Korea’s contribution comes at a critical time in Afghanistan, where 15 million people – one-third of the population – mostly women and children, require food assistance to survive the winter.
The UN estimates that 22.9 million people, more than half of Afghanistan’s population, will require humanitarian assistance this year. It has requested $2.42 billion to assist the 16.8 million people it has prioritized.
“Afghanistan remains a global hunger hotspot and the future looks grim for many families across the country. Rising malnutrition rates paint a bleak picture with nearly 3.5 million children and 1.2 million mothers expected to become malnourished in 2025,” said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP Country Director in Afghanistan.
“It is thanks to investments by our partners, like the Republic of Korea, that we are able to continue to reach women and their children across the country with assistance,” she added.
According to WFP, South Korea has contributed $36 million to the organization’s activities in Afghanistan over the past five years, making it one of the top ten donors for Afghanistan.
