Food Relief Provided to Afghanis Facing 'Bitter Winter'

2 年前

A “bitter winter” looms for millions of people in Afghanistan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said, as the country is gripped by food shortages.

Around 22.8 million people, or 55 percent of Afghanistan’s population, are experiencing high levels of food shortages, according to the IFRC, after a severe drought crippled food production.

The IFRC said it was providing 3,000 tonnes of food relief for 210,000 people. Winter survival kits were being delivered by the Afghan Red Crescent in some of the hardest-hit provinces, they said.

This year, almost 700,000 people have been internally displaced, the IFRC said, joining some 3.5 million people who have already been forced from their homes by conflict, hunger and drought.

Mawlawi Mutiul Haq Khales, the Afghan Red Crescent’s acting president, said: "Millions of people are struggling to survive due to wholescale crop losses, acute food shortages, and a lack of cash to buy basic necessities.

“Afghan Red Crescent teams have not stopped helping people with relief and healthcare, but the vast majority of families remain unassisted, lacking adequate food provisions, money for the very basic needs and survival kits to get through the harsh winter months ahead.”

Video released by the IFRC shows food distribution at its Kabul base. Credit: IFRC via Storyful