WFP Warns 2.3 Million More Afghans Could Face Food Insecurity Amid Regional Crisis
Tawazon – The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that if the closure of Afghanistan-Pakistan borders continues and the Middle East crisis escalates, an additional 2.3 million people in Afghanistan could face food insecurity.
The agency said in a report released on Friday June 5, that 13.8 million people in Afghanistan are already struggling with food insecurity.
A new report titled “Food Security Under Pressure: How the Middle East Crisis is Affecting Vulnerable Countries” analyzes the situation in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.
It shows that 2.5 million people in Somalia, 1.3 million in Sri Lanka and 2.3 million in Afghanistan are struggling to meet their basic food needs with some facing acute hunger due to the crisis.
WFP said its earlier warnings about the impact of the Middle East conflict are now becoming reality, adding that effects of the crisis are deep and long lasting for the most vulnerable countries.
In March, the organization had projected that if the conflict continued and oil prices remained around $100 per barrel until the end of June, up to 45 million people could face acute food insecurity. WFP said this scenario is now unfolding.
WFP Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service Director Jean Martin Bauer said early warnings are only effective if the world acts on them.
“We had warned that this crisis could push millions more into hunger. We are now seeing it unfold in real time.In many cases, the poorest families around the world, far from the center of the crisis, are the most affected,” he said.
The WFP said countries affected by conflict, climate shocks and economic instability, or those heavily dependent on imports are among the hardest hit, as fuel, fertilizr, and food costs continue to rise.
WFP added that these impacts are expected to intensify in the coming months, even if the Middle East conflict eases.
“Even if this conflict ends today, irreversible damage has already been done, its impact on prices, livelihoods and humanitarian operations will continue for a long time”, he said.
The report highlights Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka as the three countries most affected in the study.
In Afghanistan where hunger and malnutrition are already severe, WFP analysis shows that if border closures with Pakistan continue and the Middle East crisis worsens, up to 2.3 million more people could face food insecurity on top of the 13.8 million already affected.The report also notes Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on Iran for 60% of its exports and 50% of its imports which further worsens the situation.
WFP says that the global humanitarian system is under increasing pressure due to rising needs, higher delivery costs and declining funding.