More than a third of Afghanistan’s residents are on the verge of starvation – UN

Millions of Afghans are facing starvation in the near future, David Beasley, director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), said Tuesday. He called on world leaders to take urgent action, transfers Reuters.

“The perfect storm is looming due to several years of drought, hostilities, and an economic crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Beasley in Doha. “The number of people facing hunger has grown to 14 million.” This is almost 38% of the population of Afghanistan.

WFP experts predict a humanitarian catastrophe if the UN cannot raise $ 200 million by September. According to Beazley, “hell on earth” will come for the people of Afghanistan if the economic situation continues to deteriorate.

Afghanistan found itself in a difficult economic situation after many states and organizations refused to finance various projects in the country when militants of the Taliban terrorist movement seized power.

David Beasley hopes that the United States, Qatar and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf will come to the aid of the Afghans. Unless aid arrives before winter, 4 million Afghans are threatened by starvation.

According to the WFP director, the Taliban have given guarantees that this assistance will reach those in need without hindrance. “So far, they’ve worked with us,” Beasley added. He noted that Taliban militants did not levy a fee on vehicles carrying humanitarian aid.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WFP published a report back in March, in which Afghanistan was among 20-odd nations facing severe food shortages and requiring immediate massive assistance. On Monday, UN Secretary General’s spokesman Stefan Dujarrick said the organization continues to provide humanitarian assistance throughout Afghanistan, supplying food and medicine. transfers TASS.

After the US announced the end of the armed operation in Afghanistan and the beginning of the withdrawal of troops, the Taliban launched an offensive against government forces and entered Kabul without a fight by August 15. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country. Western countries are evacuating their citizens, including embassy staff, as well as coalition-affiliated Afghans and their families.