In Afghanistan, 14 million people face food insecurity and more than 3.2 million children under the age of five are at risk of suffering from acute malnutrition by the end of the year. “Since mid-August – when the Taliban took power – we have seen this situation worsen quickly. Humanitarian aid must arrive by mid-November, otherwise it will be impossible to provide assistance in areas where winter has already arrived”. It is the alarm raised by Mary-Ellen McGroarty director in Afghanistan of the World Food Program (Wfp), the United Nations agency that deals with food assistance, during an online briefing from Kabul. “I have been working with the WFP for many years but I have never seen the scale of the crisis I am witnessing before”.
The desperation of the displaced Afghans: “Here we risk dying of hunger”
by Barbara Schiavulli
A race against time for which “a massive humanitarian response capable of saving lives” is needed. McGroarty’s request to address the increase in these data collected by the WFP was launched a few hours before the start of the extraordinary G20 wanted by the Italian Presidency – a summit that anticipates the one in attendance scheduled for the end of the month in Rome – whose objective is to avert the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. “I hope they realize the gravity of the situation in the country and what is happening to the Afghan people in terms of the humanitarian crisis and with this awareness they will finance the necessary response, not only by the end of the year but beyond,” explained the director.
UN appeal for the G20 Afghanistan: “Aid for the population or the whole world will pay a high price”
He is the chairman of the board Mario Draghi to conduct the online exchange between heads of state and government flanked by various international organizations including the UN, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The European Union is represented by the presidents Charles Michel e Ursula Von der Leyen. The premier, leaders and government officials will work together to affirm shared principles and establish the lines of action for a common commitment.
According to the WFP director in Afghanistan, “the economic crisis is echoing every aspect of life for Afghans so we also need macroeconomic solutions that allow basic services to continue to function, the economy is the country’s engine for protect the population “. Since August, millions of people have lost their jobs and can’t find a new one, businesses have gone bankrupt, banks are closed for days and food prices are rising. “People are struggling to be able to feed themselves”, said McGroarty, for this reason the United Nations agency urged world leaders and international organizations “to extend a hand of hope, of assistance to the Afghan people”.
Money for refugees and civilians: Draghi bets on the UN to help Afghanistan
by Tommaso Ciriaco
.