“wfp Alarm bells have been ringing for months,” Carl Schau, wfp Deputy Executive Director said At the end of a recent visit to the country.
He added, “This week I met malnourished mothers and children who traveled more than two hours to reach a WFP-supported clinic in Hisar Shahi camp, only to be turned away because we had no nutrients left to give them.”
“What I saw in eastern Afghanistan is happening all over the country and it is heartbreaking and completely unacceptable.”
Malnutrition rate near record
Afghanistan already faces record levels of malnutrition, affecting nearly five million mothers and children. The pressure is mounting: the closure of the border with Pakistan, frequent floods and earthquakes, and a sharp decline in humanitarian funding.
Amid humanitarian crisis, there are also concerns over human rights and freedom of the press In fact Taliban officials detained at least three journalists on unspecified charges this week.
outbreak of middle east crisis
Rising global fuel prices and supply routes disrupted by the Middle East conflict are pushing WFP’s already underfunded operations in Afghanistan to the brink.
It comes as an additional 500,000 people have returned from Pakistan and Iran so far this year, on top of the nearly 2.8 million who returned last year, as families move into host communities that are themselves struggling.
“We are also seeing vulnerable families crossing the border from Pakistan in large numbers; many of them coming to a country where they don’t know anyone, they have no place to go and they don’t know where their next meal will come from,” Mr Skau said.
“I met single mothers and families with small children – all of whom had nothing more than they could afford. They need food, shelter, protection and immediate assistance.”
immediate support
WFP is opening new supply corridors, targeting the most vulnerable and working closely with other UN agencies and partners.
But without immediate donor support and rapid clearance of humanitarian supplies, “these extraordinary efforts will fall woefully short of preventing a humanitarian disaster for millions of mothers and children,” Mr. Skou warned.
WFP urgently needs $350 million for the next six months for its life-saving operations in Afghanistan.
detention of journalists
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is worsening amid widespread concerns over rights and civil liberties.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Expressed “grave concern” over the detention of at least three journalists in recent days by de facto authorities on unspecified charges.
These incidents come against the backdrop of persistent reports of threats and attacks against several journalists and confiscation of their property by de facto authorities during search operations.
In a statement on Thursday, UNAMA Asked that the legal basis and any charges against detained journalists be made clear and that rights under due process be respected at all times.
A free, independent and secure press is essential for transparency, accountability and the well-being of Afghan society. Mission said.
