Hsiao-Wei Lee, the World Food Programme’s country director for Afghanistan, described the nation as a “global hunger hotspot” on Thursday, citing that more than three-quarters of Afghans cannot afford a nutritious diet necessary to prevent malnutrition.
Speaking at an event in Kabul to mark China’s contribution to WFP operations, Lee emphasized the urgent need for continued emergency food assistance to help Afghan families survive the upcoming winter. Due to a persistent funding shortfall, 11 million Afghans missed out on emergency food aid this year, including over 2 million mothers and children who did not receive specialized nutritional support, the WFP stated.
Ma Chen Guang, the Counsellor of Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan, echoed Lee’s concerns, noting that “entire communities across Afghanistan experience despair and hunger.” He pledged China’s ongoing commitment to work with the WFP to aid Afghan families struggling for survival.
The WFP highlighted that the Chinese contribution enabled the purchase of over 2,000 metric tons of fortified wheat flour, vegetable oil, yellow split peas, and salt. These supplies have been distributed to more than 35,000 families, benefitting nearly 250,000 people nationwide.
