The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan has welcomed a substantial contribution of $280mn from the United States, facilitated through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This funding will enable WFP to extend food assistance to over 3mn individuals facing hunger and to treat more than 900,000 malnourished children and women across the country.
Additionally, the support will ensure the continued operation of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS).
"Large-scale humanitarian assistance over the past two years has significantly improved the food security situation in Afghanistan, pulling millions back from the brink of starvation," said Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP Country Director in Afghanistan. "However, these gains remain fragile and could be reversed if aid to vulnerable communities is not sustained. We are deeply appreciative of USAID's ongoing and steadfast support for both WFP and the Afghan people."
The $280mn contribution will provide emergency food or cash assistance to over 3mn people experiencing crisis-level food insecurity for up to eight months. This support will help them navigate the most challenging months of the year.
Furthermore, the funding will enable WFP to address malnutrition by providing specialized nutritious food to more than half a million children under five and nearly 380,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in health clinics across Afghanistan. Despite recent improvements, malnutrition rates remain alarmingly high in several regions, including Kabul, where the number of children admitted to health centers has nearly tripled compared to last year.
"Many women bringing their children to our clinic come from impoverished backgrounds and struggle to provide adequate nutrition and care," explained Zainab, a nutrition staff member at a WFP-supported clinic in Kabul. "The specialized food we provide helps these children recover and gain weight, often within two months. We also offer education on proper feeding and child care to prevent future malnutrition."
The funding will also support UNHAS operations, ensuring aid workers can safely and reliably reach communities in need, including remote areas. In the past year, UNHAS transported nearly 23,000 passengers from over 100 organizations across 21 domestic and 4 international destinations.
The latest $280mn contribution from the United States follows previous donations exceeding $1bn over the past three years, cementing the U.S. as the largest donor to WFP's efforts in Afghanistan.
WFP in Afghanistan has also received £40mn (over $50mn) from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to enhance emergency food assistance and resilience-building efforts, benefiting over 1.2mn people.
With this contribution, WFP will deliver critical emergency food aid, offer preventive malnutrition treatment for nearly 150,000 children, and support over 140,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The funds will also enable 77,000 food-insecure individuals to engage in asset-creation projects, enhancing community resilience against climate change impacts.
This UK contribution follows last year's donation of over £38mn (nearly $49mn) and reinforces the UK's status as the second-largest donor to WFP in Afghanistan for the current year.
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