The World Food Programme (WFP) has been issuing warnings for months about the escalating hunger crisis in Afghanistan, with its Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau, expressing deep concern following a recent visit to the country.
“This week I met malnourished mothers and children who travelled for over two hours to reach a WFP-supported clinic in Hisar Shahi camp, only to be turned away because we have no nutritious supplements left to give them,” Skau stated. “What I saw in eastern Afghanistan is happening across the country and it is heartbreaking and totally unacceptable.”
Near-Record Malnutrition Rates
Afghanistan is currently grappling with near-record levels of malnutrition, affecting nearly five million mothers and children. The situation is exacerbated by several factors, including the closure of the border with Pakistan, recurrent floods and earthquakes, and a significant decline in humanitarian funding.
Amid this humanitarian crisis, concerns are also mounting over human rights and press freedom. The de facto Taliban authorities have detained at least three journalists this week on unspecified charges.
Middle East Crisis Spillover
Rising global fuel prices and disrupted supply routes due to the conflict in the Middle East are pushing WFP’s already underfunded operations in Afghanistan to the brink. This comes as an additional 500,000 people have returned from Pakistan and Iran this year, adding to the nearly 2.8 million who returned last year. These families are moving into host communities that are themselves facing significant challenges.
“We are also seeing vulnerable families crossing the border from Pakistan in growing numbers; many of them coming to a country where they know no one, have no place to go and have no idea where their next meal will come from,” Mr. Skau said. “I met single mothers and families with young babies – all of whom crossed with nothing more than what they can carry. They need food, shelter, safety and immediate support.”
Urgent Support Needed
The WFP is actively working to establish new supply corridors, targeting the most vulnerable populations and collaborating closely with other UN agencies and partners. However, without immediate donor support and expedited clearance of humanitarian supplies, these efforts may fall short of preventing a humanitarian disaster for millions of mothers and children.
The WFP has issued an urgent appeal for $350 million to sustain its life-saving operations in Afghanistan over the next six months.
Detention of Journalists
The deteriorating humanitarian situation unfolds against a backdrop of broader concerns regarding rights and civic freedoms in Afghanistan. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed “serious concern” over the recent detentions of at least three journalists by the de facto authorities on unspecified charges.
These detentions follow persistent reports of threats, assaults, and property confiscation against journalists by the de facto authorities. UNAMA has called for the legal basis and any charges against the detained journalists to be clarified, emphasizing the importance of respecting due process rights.
The Mission underscored that a free, independent, and safe press is fundamental to transparency, accountability, and the overall well-being of Afghan society.
