Quality of WFP-distributed food aid sparks complaints

BAMYAN CITY/Kabul (Pajhwok): Residents of central Bamyan province claim the World Food Program has distributed low-quality food to them and they cannot use it.

Mohammad Ali, an inhabitant of the Zagaran village of the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “The food aid WFP distributed in the province a week ago cannot be consumed in any way.”

He acknowledged receiving 50 kilograms of flour and rice, five litres of cooking oil, pulses, bread and other items from the UN agency. However, he alleged, the items were of poor quality and were not worth consuming.

Zahra, who hails from Jagarkhel area, also complained about the quality of the food aid provided by WFP.

She said: “Many times, people visited the WFP provincial office and grumbled about the poor quality of the food aid…”

But the officials concerned responded since the food aid was left in stocks from the past, the quality of the eatables might have changed.

Zahra went on to blame the officials for distributing the assistance to the people despite knowing about the problem.

Mohammad Karmi, head of Tawheed Council No.1, confirmed complaints from the people about the poor quality of the aid delivered by the WFP.

He believed the aid delivered to the needy by a global organisation should meet health standards. The distribution of stale, low-quality and unhealthy items should be avoided, he remarked.

The Pajhwok reporter visited houses of aid recipients and made a video of the items they had been handed over. The video shows eatables are unfit for human consumption.

On the other hand, WFP’s local spokesperson Wahidullah Amani told Pajhwok the agency took food quality seriously and would look into issue.

If the food items were found to be not meeting WFP standards, people could return them, he said, promising that they would receive quality eatables.

He explained the WFP had a complaint-hearing system and people from all over the country could share their complaints with it on 0790555544.

Sikandar Omari, the labour and social affairs director, said this department had tasked a committee with probing people’s complaints about the quality of WFP food aid.

He assured in the future, the distribution of low-quality and unhygienic items would be prevented with the cooperating of relevant institutions.

sa/mud

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