UN WFP warned that Half of Afghanistan’s population would face Acute food insecurity from November.
As Winter knocks on the door of conflict-ridden Afghanistan, the country is on the verge of slipping into A Food crisis hence threatening the lives of the country’s half of the population. United Nations World Food Program (UN WFP) has warned that two crore Afghans may face a Food shortage this Winter.
This Food crisis is caused by several factors, including the Adverse topography of Afghanistan to undertake Agricultural practices and insufficient rainfall to grow food crops.
And Uncertainties induced by sudden take over by the Taliban, Reluctance of countries in providing humanitarian assistance because of lack of faith in the credibility of Taliban government.
Afghanistan population is nearly around 4 crores. The majority of people reside in rural areas with a lack of access to Food, Water, Irrigation, and other basic amenities, making them vulnerable to crises, especially A Food crisis.
Agriculture dominates Afghanistan’s economy. Agriculture contributes to a substantial share of its Economy/GDP. Further 70% of Afghans lives & work in Rural areas and depends on Agricultural (without sufficient irrigation) to earn income which makes them vulnerable to risks associated with climate change.
Sudden takeover by Terrorist outfit caused disruption in Agriculture and Trade leaving pockets of Afghan’s empty, adding to the afflictions Inflationary pressure inbuilt on Afghan people induced by Lower Supply and Increased Demand of essential food items.
The country’s currency is falling, making food imports costly, plus the Taliban capped weekly bank withdrawals to 20,000 Afghani (Rs. 17,000). There are reports of parents selling their children for Rs. 20-25,000 to sustain their lives.
Price rise of essential commodities like Wheat, beans, flour, edible oil, gas touching the record high. Various reports in the past have highlighted the miserable situation in Afghanistan. A 2010 UN Report stated that “Poverty kills more Afghan than those who dies because of armed conflict does”.
Recently Global Hunger Index (GHI), 2020 ranked Afghanistan at 103rd position out of 116 countries. In May, World Bank noted that “The Pandemic has exacerbated Food insecurity across vulnerable communities in Afghanistan.
This is mainly because of preventive measures like Lockdown, Border closures which disrupted Economic activities leaving pockets of Afghans empty”.
Although Kabul is under the Taliban, countries like India, China, Turkey, the United States extend humanitarian assistance in the form of Food, Clothes for harsh Winter, Drugs and other essentials required to sustain livelihoods.
Even in this time of hardship, Pakistan is engaged in corrupt politics by denying permission to Indian Aircraft to fly over its airspace despite urging the Global community to extend aid to Afghanistan’s Population a few months back.
The Aircraft was carrying humanitarian aid to Afghanistan; as Pakistan rejected permission, the Aircraft had to fly from the Middle East route to reach Afghanistan.
Pakistan doesn’t want India to have a crucial role in building Afghanistan as it endangers its vested interests sown in the region.
China is leveraging the opportunity provided by the Taliban takeover by extending Financial, Humanitarian and Political support to the country, especially to the Taliban, to spread its Political and Economic influence in the region.
