On World Food Day, on Sunday, residents of Kabul said that the lack of jobs and economic challenges is threatening them with severe food insecurity.

The World Food Program estimated that nearly 19 million Afghans are facing food insecurity.

Suraya is a breadwinner for her family of seven members.

“I have seven children. My husband is jobless. When I eat breakfast, we are worried about our lunch, when we eat lunch, we are worried about our dinner,” she said.

The high rate of poverty has compelled dozens of students into hard labor.

“I work from 6:00 am in the morning to the end of the day. I make between 20 to 50 Afs. And I am confused about what to buy with that money,” said Beheshta, a child laborer.

According to the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA), the daily income of Afghans is 102 Afs.

Some other citizens of the country expressed frustration over the rise in food prices in the country.

“There are no jobs and business now. Many of those who are working, their salaries are low. Those who are working outside as vendors and other jobs make from 100 to 200 Afs which is not even sufficient for dinner,” said Arash Sultani, a resident of Kabul.

The World Food Program in Afghanistan said that a survey conducted in February and March inidicated that nearly 19 million people are facing food insecurity.

“The results of the (survey) show that nearly 19 million or 18.9 million people are facing food insecurity and they need food assistance and humanitarian assistance,” said Wahidullah Amani, a spokesman for WFP Afghanistan.

“We plan to attract international humanitarian aid, support the small and average industries, and to launch major economic projects to support the infrastructure in Afghanistan,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy.