No intention to exit Afghanistan, says WFP

KABUL (Pajhwok): The World Food Programme (WFP) has promised to continue with its mission in Afghanistan despite political gaps.

The UN food agency had no intention of exiting Afghanistan, said Hsiao-Wei Lee, head of the United Nations World Food Programme in Afghanistan.

Bakhtar News Agency quoted her as saying during a visit to Berlin: “Humanitarian aid is of vital importance to the majority of vulnerable people, including women, children and people with disabilities.”

Over the past 18 months, the WFP official noted, the humanitarian crisis had escalated in Afghanistan, where the famine had been prevented by humanitarian aid.

Millions of Afghans were still suffering from food insecurity, said Hsiao-Wei Lee, who warned of a lack of funds needed for humanitarian aid.

WFP was faced with a funding shortfall of $900 million for the next six months, she concluded.

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