The UN needs money to urgently deliver humanitarian aid to millions of vulnerable people, including many children

Afghanistan crisis: food supplies for millions could run out this month

photo_camera UNICEF/Afganistán - UN says more than 18 million people in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan

Food stocks in Afghanistan could run out as soon as this month, a senior UN official warned on Wednesday, urging the international community to step up its support for the country.

Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, stressed that while the UN remains "determined to deliver", more funds are needed to reach millions of people who depend on aid to survive.

He reported that more than half of children under five suffer from extreme malnutrition, and more than a third of citizens do not receive enough to eat. 

"It is extremely important that we prevent Afghanistan from falling into a new humanitarian catastrophe by taking the necessary steps to provide the essentials that this country needs right now, which is to support food, health and protection services, as well as non-food items, to those in dire need," Alakbarov said, speaking from the country's capital, Kabul.

In recent days, the UN has sent medical supplies to Mazar-e-Sharif airport, while some 600 metric tonnes of food were delivered by trucks arriving at the border from Pakistan.

The most vulnerable children

UN teams have also provided communities with access to water and sanitation as well as protection services, including some 800 children at Kabul airport. However, Alakbarov said the World Food Programme (WFP) could run out of stocks by the end of September.

"In order for us to keep up with the current demand, we need at least $200 million for the food sector alone, and to be able to provide food to the most vulnerable," specifying that "the most vulnerable are the children".

Ensuring humanitarian access

Although "two major Member States" have indicated their financial support, this will still not be enough, the UN representative said, stating that "a really broad involvement of the international community in these resource mobilisation efforts" is needed.

The UN is to launch an urgent appeal for Afghanistan in the coming days.

Even before the current turmoil, some 18 million people, or half the population, were dependent on emergency aid to meet their basic needs.  A funding request for $1.3 billion earlier this year has so far raised less than $400 million.

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian partners are able to access most of the country, and are working in 394 of the 403 districts. 

Gender equality is a "test"

Alakbarov said that while the Taliban have given "every guarantee" for access, it varies from province to province due to a number of issues, including the extent to which women are allowed to continue working.

In some places, the Taliban provincial authorities have allowed women who are employed in humanitarian aid to return to their jobs in health and education, or to participate in needs assessments. Elsewhere, "we have not received news of that possibility," she said.

"We continue to advocate very strongly with the Taliban, first of all, that the principles of gender equality and participation be respected, so that women can return to work and provide the necessary assistance. And that we are provided with all the necessary facilitation to do this work".

Alakbarov stressed that staff security is a top priority, particularly for female staff, most of whom are Afghan nationals.

"The issue of gender equality and women is a big test for the Taliban, and for how the international community is going to react and interact," he said. "And it is obviously at the centre of the UN's attention."

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