This new contribution will allow WFP to support nearly 600,000 people with food or cash assistance and provide over 250,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and more than 140,000 children with specialized nutritious food, ensuring they receive the critical nutrition and care they need.
"Food security in Afghanistan is marginally improving, largely thanks to massive humanitarian assistance from partners like the European Union," said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan, "our overarching goal is to address hunger and promote food security for the most vulnerable across the country, especially for women and children who are often hit the hardest by the food insecurity."
UNHAS, operated by WFP, is vital in facilitating humanitarian efforts across Afghanistan - a nation grappling with decades of conflict, natural disasters, and economic challenges. The air service provides safe, reliable, and efficient transport for humanitarian workers, supplies, and aid, especially to remote and hard-to-reach areas where road access is either impossible or dangerous.
"The European Union is steadfast in its commitment to support the people of Afghanistan, who are facing one of the world's largest and most complex humanitarian crises," said François Goemans, head of the EU humanitarian aid operations in Afghanistan. "We will continue to work with longstanding humanitarian partners like WFP to deliver life-saving aid to those communities that are most in need."
Last year, WFP reached a total of 18.6 million people across all its programmes, distributing 600,000 metric tons of food and disbursing US$190 million in cash or vouchers to help families meet their food needs. Among those reached, 9.3 million were women and girls and an estimated 5.8 million people with disabilities.
This latest contribution of EUR 25 million (over US$26 million) from the EU builds upon last year's contribution of nearly EUR 75 million (over US$80 million) and more than EUR 42 million (over US$45 million) in 2022. This brings the EU's total support for WFP's operations in Afghanistan to over EUR 150 million (more than US$160 million) in the past three years, underscoring their commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
