Kabul, 28 March 2022 (TDI): According to the Head of the World Food Program (WFP) in Afghanistan, Mary Allen McGroarty, about 8.7 million people were just a step away from starvation in Afghanistan because of the Russia-Ukraine war.
As a result of severe drought, UNICEF estimates that about 3.5 million children need essential services e.g. polio drops, primary health care, water, and sanitation.
The war in #Ukraine could compound the hunger crisis in #Afghanistan, as food prices soar and foreign aid is diverted to help refugees in Europe.
WFP has reached 12 million Afghans so far this year with life-saving food, but funding is running out fast. pic.twitter.com/k3VcBqNYQZ
— World Food Programme (@WFP) March 22, 2022
Highlighting the plight of the Afghans and their unmatched human crises, the UN called for $ 4.4 billion in financial help to prevent the crisis from deteriorating further. It is evident that the Afghan crisis can be deemed the worst human disaster in decades.
However it has taken a back seat, even the International media is not covering it and it is no longer in the international spotlight. The effects of shifting Western focus could have gruesome effects on the existing scenario in Afghanistan.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24, the main focus of Western powers and the EU is on 10 million displaced people within Ukraine and across the borders with major funding being directed towards the Ukraine crisis.
It may be highlighted that after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the country went through an acute economic collapse as a result of which plunged into absolute poverty.
Afghanistan‘s central bank holdings in the US were frozen along with bank accounts of affluent businessmen, millions of Afghanis were left jobless. Acute hunger, drought, & coronavirus pandemic became pervasive.
Although the West does not see the situation as being an immediate security challenge, maintaining that as the Taliban seek to consolidate themselves they would like to use diplomatic efforts for wide-ranging recognition.
Nevertheless, behind this superficial calm other forces are at work, as a result of which a new paradigm might emerge. Afghan civilians are paying the highest price with one million killed and millions displaced.
Afghans genuinely feel the double standards of the Western countries by demonstrating massive solidarity and support to Ukraine, which never extended to them.
As a result of the Ukraine war 3 million Ukrainians were forced to flee and Europe, the US, and Canada have pledged assistance to provide them with safe heaven by accommodating them after migration.
As for Afghanistan, thousands are waiting for their applications to be processed while millions are overwhelmingly rejected manifesting the hypocrisy of the Western powers.
The continued war in Ukraine is having far-reaching effects on the underprivileged segments of developing countries. Recently, UN Chief Antonio Guterres warned of a ‘meltdown of the food system and an assault on the world’s most vulnerable people. ‘
It was further elaborated that ‘global food prices index level was at its highest level and world’s 45 least developed countries import a substantial amount of their wheat, corn, and barley from Russia and Ukraine which would witness phenomenal soaring of prices.
Moreover, large portions of the world fertilizer are stuck in Russia and Belarus and worldwide prices are soaring. It may be highlighted that as humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia rise, the Ukraine conflict is having an adverse and catastrophic effect on the poor and underprivileged people and regions.
Countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are ninety percent dependent on imported wheat from Russia and Ukraine and are already facing the worst drought seen in decades.
In war-ravaged Yemen, 20 million people face a growing hunger crisis and are in acute need of aid. Increased fuel and food prices have passed onto poor consumers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that the food price index has hit a record high. Afghanistan, Yemen, and the Sahel region of Africa are severely hit with price hikes and scarcity of grains.
With all the focus on the Ukraine crisis, the attention of the Western world and a large number of donors has shifted to the detriment of other needy countries, i.e. Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan.
International Rescue Committee (IRC) has called on the world leaders to uplift and renew their commitment/pledges to supporting people in dire need across the globe and to keep their focus on other worst-hit poor and underprivileged countries as well.
I'm a detail-oriented, problem-solving, persistent multitasker. Having a magna cum laude MSc. in Strategic Studies from National Defense University, Pakistan, I believe in peaceful discourse & dialogue and have built my interest in nontraditional security threats.
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