New York, 21 September 2023 (TDI): At the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres highlighted the widespread repercussions of the funding crisis.
He especially emphasized Afghanistan underscoring the urgent need for international support. It is pertinent to note that a convergence of conflict and rising costs is fueling an unprecedented global food crisis.
Approximately 345 million individuals grapple with food insecurity, with 45 million children under the age of five experiencing acute malnutrition worldwide.
Afghanistan faces one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises, but years of conflict and turmoil risk making it a neglected issue.
Despite a growing need for humanitarian assistance, funding has significantly declined, leaving two-thirds of the population in dire need.
Further, Antonio Guterres underscored the dire situation; this month, an additional 2 million Afghans face food insecurity as winter approaches, compounding the massive funding crisis that has left a total of 10 million people without assistance in 2023.
Throughout Afghanistan, women and girls are confronting obstacles in obtaining essential resources such as food, water, education, and reproductive healthcare.
Additionally, Taliban-imposed limitations on female employment are compounding their struggle to independently provide for their families.
Currently, almost 20 million people are in an urgent food crisis, facing the looming threat of famine as another harsh winter approaches.
Unfortunately, the number of individuals entirely deprived of World Food Programme (WFP) aid has now reached 10 million due to insufficient funding, with projections of the emergency worsening, as stated by the WFP Chief, Cindy McCain.
Also Read: Afghanistan Humanitarian Aid: UN Secretary-General
Moreover, the UN Secretary-General issued a compelling appeal for international support and immediate action to confront this escalating crisis.
Nearly 20 million people are in dire need of food assistance, and 10 million have been cut off from WFP aid, with the situation expected to deteriorate further.
The urgency of addressing the funding crisis in Afghanistan and its catastrophic impact on nearly 20 million people cannot be overstated.
The international community must unite to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions, demonstrating the power of solidarity in times of dire need.
