KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says it has cut over seven million people in Afghanistan from life-saving assistance this winter due to a lack of funding.
In a video posted on X, Pauline Eloff, WFP Head of Emergencies, said that due to insufficient funding, one out of two families in dire need of aid cannot receive assistance.
“Here in Afghanistan, winters are harsh and many communities get cut off for many months by the snow. To make sure that the most vulnerable families have what they need to survive we give them enough food to get through the worst of winter,” Pauline said, adding that without food assistance, families face an impossible choice of whether to feed their children or heat their homes.
“But we do not have enough funding this year to help everyone that needs it. For every family we assist one family can’t receive assistance,” she added.
The WFP official called for increased international support to address the crisis and ensure that everyone in need of life-saving aid receives assistance.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the country has plunged deeper into a humanitarian crisis, becoming one of the world’s most severe emergencies. Additionally, in recent years, Afghanistan has experienced multiple natural disasters, such as earthquakes, flooding, and landslides, which have worsened the situation.
WFP previously reported that at least 15 million people in Afghanistan, or one in every three, are uncertain about where their next meal will come from. The agency has appealed for $787 million to prevent starvation among Afghans during 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.
The humanitarian response, however, has faced a significant funding gap in recent years. The UN’s $3.06 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan last year remained critically underfunded, with only 37.5% of the required funds secured as of November. Humanitarian agencies have warned that, without adequate resources, they will be unable to address the growing needs of Afghan communities.
