Afghanistan Launches $100 Million Food Security Project Amid Crisis
KABUL: The United Nations announced on Thursday that Afghanistan will initiate a $100 million food security project as the country faces escalating hunger issues. This crisis is largely due to the mass deportations of Afghans from neighboring countries, as well as cuts in foreign aid and a struggling economy.
Currently, Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation is worsening. Millions are suffering from hunger as a result of lost remittances, limited job options, and a significant drop in international support.
This two-year program, which has backing from the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank, aims to assist over 151,000 families. This includes Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan, as well as individuals affected by recent earthquakes and floods.
Qu Dongyu, the director of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, emphasized that while the project will tackle immediate food needs, it also seeks to boost local food production and create opportunities for the private sector.
A report from the FAO warns that by 2026, approximately 17.4 million people in Afghanistan could face severe food insecurity, with around 4.7 million suffering from acute malnutrition.
In the past year, over 2.5 million Afghans have been expelled from Iran and Pakistan, causing Afghanistan’s population to increase by nearly 10% and cutting off essential remittance income for many families.
Aid organizations have pointed out that winter conditions, a lack of job opportunities, and funding shortages are further stretching household resources. The World Food Programme indicated that last year saw the highest recorded surge in malnutrition in Afghanistan, and warns that conditions may worsen by 2026.
