Historic fund shortage: WFP warns of leaving Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The World Food Program (WFP) has warned of leaving Afghanistan due to fund shortage, saying it cannot get through in October.

WFP, the largest anti-hunger initiative around the globe, is grappling with the worst funding shortage in its 60-year history.

“We are in a desperate situation," Executive Director Cindy McCain said on Sunday during an interview with ABC.

"It's a combination of things -- it's COVID, it's climate change, it's conflict and also the cost of being able to do business," McCain told ABC.

About reasons behind the lack of money, she said. "Those things combined and, of course, a world that has kind of grown tired of all this. There's a great malaise right now within countries about foreign aid and giving."

"The bottom line is those that are going to suffer [are] those who can't afford to," McCain said.

In September, the WFP said it "has been struggling to meet the global need for food assistance and for the first time ever, WFP has seen contributions decreasing while needs steadily increase."

The organization has already had to make "significant cuts in hot spots such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Jordan, Palestine, South Sudan, Somalia, and Syria."

McCain warned that in Afghanistan, for example, the food program doesn't "have enough money to even get through October."

"Unless we can build up some funding for Afghanistan, we'll have to pull it completely out," McCain said.

Emphasizing the urgency, she said, "Right now, women can't work. They can't hold jobs of any kind. And in the case of WFP, we've been feeding women, feeding women and children. And if we have to pull out, starvation and famine is going to be the result of this."

sa/ma