One-third of Afghanistan population face food insecurity: WB

KABUL (Pajhwok): The World Bank (WB) has said that Afghanistan is grappling with severe food insecurity, with nearly one-third of the population affected.

In a report published on Thursday, the WB stated that Afghanistan is facing a critical food security crisis. Approximately 12.6 million people—nearly one-third of the population—are experiencing food insecurity, with 2.9 million on the verge of starvation.

The report highlighted that economic instability, climate shocks, and disrupted agricultural productivity have left the country struggling to meet basic needs. As the world works toward achieving zero hunger by 2030, Afghanistan’s situation presents a stark contrast.

However, tools like machine-learning-enabled food security estimates and real-time price monitoring are helping to bridge critical gaps and offer hope for effective policy interventions.

Climate shocks are a major driver of food insecurity in Afghanistan, significantly impacting the conflict-affected agricultural economy. Floods and droughts disrupt agricultural cycles, making it difficult for farmers to maintain productivity.

While these challenges have long been reported, a new study utilizing nearly 15 years of monthly data on climatic anomalies, food security outcomes, and local price information offers fresh, quantitative insights into their impact.

The data reveals that flood events increase the likelihood of food stress (Integrated Phase Classification 2 and above) by 23.4% and food crises (IPC 3 and above) by 5.9%. Food crises, in particular, signal severe food insecurity where livelihoods face the risk of irreversible damage.

This comes as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has previously warned about the potential rise in food insecurity in Afghanistan.

Despite a slight improvement in food security in 2024, UNICEF has said that 32% of Afghanistan’s population still requires immediate humanitarian assistance.

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