Afghanistan Ranks 2nd Globally in Severe Hunger, WFP Reports
The Islamic Emirate said that the shortage of the budget of aid organizations is due to a worldwide increase of poverty.
Kabul: In a stark revelation, Afghanistan has been identified as the second-most affected country globally, with over 1 million of its people grappling with emergency-level hunger, according to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan (WFP).
The WFP Afghanistan disclosed this alarming statistic on its official platform, shedding light on the dire situation within the nation. An astonishing 6.08 million Afghans find themselves in the “4th phase” of hunger, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Wahidullah Amani, a spokesperson for WFP Afghanistan, revealed that due to budget constraints, the organization had to reduce its assistance from 13 million individuals to just 2 million. In practical terms, this means that WFP can currently provide aid to only 3 million people, leaving many in desperate need.
The Islamic Emirate, Afghanistan’s new governing authority, attributed the shortfall in aid organization budgets to a global surge in poverty. Spokesperson Mujahid noted that poverty is not unique to Afghanistan, as even Western and other supporting nations are grappling with poverty-related challenges. He also highlighted ongoing efforts within Afghanistan to address the poverty crisis.
Economists, however, emphasize the alarming rise in poverty and unemployment compared to previous conditions. They stress the critical role that world countries and international organizations must continue to play in supporting the Afghan population.
Azeraksh Hafizi, an economist, pointed to international reports and stark realities within Afghanistan that indicate a catastrophic trend in the livelihoods of its people. The nation’s position as the second-poorest and most hunger-stricken in the world is a deeply concerning development.
At the top of the list of countries facing emergency-level hunger, as reported by WFP Afghanistan, is Sudan. Other countries included in this grim chart are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Somalia, Haiti, Kenya, and Nigeria.
The data underscores the pressing need for coordinated global efforts to address the hunger crisis in Afghanistan and other nations suffering from acute food shortages and poverty.
