UN food chief warns 14 million facing starvation in Afghanistan
- ‘Perfect storm’ coming as a result of drought, conflict and economic deterioration
- World Food Programme needs US$200 million to deliver lifesaving assistance
Millions of Afghans could soon face starvation due to a combination of conflict, drought and the coronavirus pandemic, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, calling on political leaders to act fast.
“There’s a perfect storm coming because of several years of drought, conflict, economic deterioration, compounded by Covid,” David Beasley said. “The number of people marching towards starvation has spiked to now 14 million.”
The WFP is warning of a human catastrophe looming in Afghanistan if the United Nations agency is not able to raise US$200 million by September.
Afghanistan is facing economic collapse after foreign countries and institutions said they would withhold aid and monetary reserves after Islamist Taliban insurgents took control of the capital Kabul on August 15.
05:21
Global aid organisation intent on staying in Taliban-run Afghanistan to ease humanitarian crisis
Beasley said the international community faced some very difficult decisions, warning it would be “hell on earth” for the people of Afghanistan if the economic situation deteriorated.
“The people of Afghanistan need aid now,” he said, adding that the amount of people needing the WFP’s help could double if the international community “turns their back” on Afghans.