The World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN have warned that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 19 countries.  

The two organizations of the UN said in a report that Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen remain at the highest alert level, “as they all have populations facing or projected to face starvation (Catastrophe, IPC Phase 5) or at risk of deterioration towards catastrophic conditions as they have already critical food insecurity (Emergency, IPC Phase 4) and are facing severe aggravating factors. These countries require the most urgent attention.” 

“Currently, nearly 19 million people across Afghanistan are experiencing acute food insecurity. This includes six million people one step from famine, who literally do not know where their next meal will be coming from,” said Philippe Kropf, head of communication of WFP Afghanistan.  

Talking at the UN General Assembly, the French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concerns over the global food crisis and famine, mentioning Afghanistan.  

“Let us look at Somalia, at Yemen, at Sudan, at Afghanistan. Famine is coming back. The food crisis is striking everywhere,” Macron said.  

This comes as the US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West said on Twitter he met with Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the EU External Action Service, where they discussed US-EU efforts to support the Afghan people through economic stabilization, advocacy for respect of their fundamental rights and intra-Afghan dialogue regarding the country’s future. 

The Ministry of Economy said that the recent droughts, freezing of Afghan assets, and restrictions on the banking system are the main reason for the economic crisis in the country. 

“The Ministry of Economy has assessed the country’s challenges in terms of the poverty situation and in coordination with the relevant ministries it has planned many projects,” said Abdul Rahman Habib, a spokesman for the Ministry of Economy. 

 Earlier, OCHA reported that more than 24 million Afghans will need humanitarian aid by the end of 2022.