With the onset of a harsh winter in Afghanistan, millions of Afghans are forced to make an impossible choice between keeping their children warm or providing them with enough food. This was stated by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
"Millions of Afghan families are freezing from the cold without food, and many face the heartbreaking dilemma of choosing between feeding their children or providing them with warmth," WFP said.
International humanitarian organizations have warned that this winter will be especially difficult for the people of Afghanistan, especially given the lack of funding for humanitarian aid. WFP recently reported that in urban areas of Afghanistan, one in three families cannot cover their basic living expenses.
Against this background, the Ministry of Economy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stressed its concern about the situation, calling on international organizations to support the country.
"At the first stage, we thank all the aid organizations that supported the people of Afghanistan. At the second stage, our plan is to fight poverty through job creation initiatives, infrastructure development and other projects that will lead to long—term poverty reduction," said Deputy Economy Minister Abdul Latif Nazari.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that of the 23 million people in need of assistance throughout Afghanistan, only 15 million received assistance in 2024.