WFP report: Hunger spreading in Afghanistan

According to the UN food agency, World Food Programme (WFP), out of 39 million people, 14 million people are facing severe hunger in Afghanistan.

Key points

• UN food agency has been able to negotiate with the Taliban in order distribute aid in one provincial capital in Afghanistan. However, it is unable to resume food deliveries to three other provincial capitals.
• This is the second drought in three years that country is facing.
• This year, drought is combined with fighting.
• Draught had afflicted Afghanistan much before the Taliban takeover of the country on August 15.
• As per WFP estimates, around 2 million children are malnourished in Afghanistan.

World Food Programme (WFP)

WEP is the food-assistance branch of United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization. It largely focuses on hunger and food security. WEP is also the largest provider of school meals. It was founded in 1961 with its headquarter in Rome. It also has offices across 80 countries. Organisation has served about 97 million people in 88 countries as of 2019.

Function of WEP

Besides emergency food relief, WFP provided technical assistance and development aid like building capacity for emergency preparedness and response, promoting social safety programs, managing supply chains & logistics and strengthening resilience against the climate change. It is also major provider of direct cash assistance and medical supplies.

Goal of WEP

WFP, as an executive member of the United Nations Development Group, aims to fulfil the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with focus on achieving SDG 2 for zero hunger by 2030.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2021