WFP Can Only Assist 1 Million of 12 Million Hungry Afghans Due to Funding Shortages

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it can provide emergency food assistance to only one million of the 12 million people facing hunger in Afghanistan, citing a critical lack of funds, Afghanistan International reported yesterday.

The organization requires $617 million to sustain its food programs through the end of 2024.

Currently, 1.4 million mothers and children are unable to access nutritious food aid amid the ongoing financial crisis, which has worsened since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Additionally, climate change has severely impacted livelihoods, with heavy rains and floods damaging agricultural resources.

Many Afghan refugee families have been forcibly returned from Pakistan without adequate support, leaving them struggling to provide for their children. This year, WFP has distributed cash assistance to nearly four million people, with women comprising half of the recipients. The World Health Organization has reported that 12 million Afghans are uncertain about their next meal, highlighting the urgent need for aid.