The World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that due to significant reductions in international aid and an anticipated freeze in U.S. foreign funding, it can now assist only half of the 15 million Afghans facing acute food insecurity. Consequently, over 6 million people are subsisting on minimal nutrition, often limited to just bread and tea.
This situation has been exacerbated by the Taliban’s restrictions on women, including the order for Afghan female NGO employees to cease work, leading to a decline in donor contributions. Additionally, global crises such as those in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza have diverted attention and resources away from Afghanistan.
The WFP’s Country Director in Afghanistan, Hsiao-Wei Lee, expressed concern over the funding shortfall, emphasizing the dire need for assistance. She noted that many individuals are receiving only one or two meals a day, primarily consisting of bread and tea.
In response to these challenges, the WFP has been adapting its operations to continue reaching female beneficiaries and their children, despite the Taliban’s restrictions. However, the ongoing funding cuts and operational constraints have intensified the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, leaving millions without adequate food assistance.
