The UN World Food Programme said it has received €16.5 million from the EU to support its relief efforts in Afghanistan, providing critical food assistance to vulnerable families and nutrition programs for mothers and children.
The funding, provided through the EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), arrives as Afghanistan faces a worsening hunger crisis this winter.
“Despite improvements in food security, largely due to effective humanitarian assistance, Afghanistan remains a global hunger hotspot, with more than a quarter of the population going hungry,” said François Goemans, who oversees EU humanitarian aid operations in Afghanistan. “More than three-quarters of the population cannot afford a nutritious diet that meets their needs and protects them from malnutrition.”
An estimated 15 million Afghans are experiencing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity this winter, WFP said.
To address this, WFP said it has begun distributing food to remote communities already cut off by heavy snow and ice, aiming to prepare them for the harsh months ahead.
“A severe funding crisis has forced us to reduce WFP’s activities in Afghanistan. For almost half of 2024, we were only able to reach one million people with life-saving food assistance each month, leaving 11 million people with unmet needs,” said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan. “This funding from the European Union is crucial to help us reach some of the most vulnerable families across the country this winter.”
WFP siad it plans to provide emergency food assistance to six million people every month during the winter, supported by funding from the European Union and other partners. Families will receive either food supplies or cash to purchase essentials from local markets. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, along with young children, will receive specialized nutritious food to prevent or treat malnutrition.
The EU’s latest contribution builds on €86.3 million ($92.5 million) in support over the past two years for WFP’s emergency programs and the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which WFP operates to facilitate humanitarian operations across Afghanistan, according to WFP’s statement.
While Afghanistan has seen some improvements in food security, millions remain vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition due to widespread poverty, economic instability, and the ongoing effects of climate change, the statement said.