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KABUL – Next year will be a dark year for most Afghan children. Save The Children in its new report has warned that one in three children in Afghanistan is anticipated to face hunger in 2024. At least 16 million people will experience acute food insecurity by March 2024, with over 7 million of them being children, the report said.
The winter season exacerbates the challenges as employment opportunities diminish, and soaring food and fuel prices contribute to increased poverty among the population. Save the Children emphasizes that an estimated 15.8 million people, accounting for more than a third of the country’s population, will grapple with acute food insecurity by March 2024. Shockingly, 7.8 million of these are children, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Residents in the capital have voiced their struggles, citing multiplied challenges with the onset of the cold season. Children, in particular, share their experiences of being compelled into hard labor due to economic hardships.
Mahdi, a child worker, expresses the dire situation: “We don’t have anyone at home to work; I work for 200 to 300 Afghani a day. We want the government to provide us with work.” Farshad, another child worker, adds, “My father doesn’t do anything; I come here myself, sell the bolani (Afghan food), and take the money home.”
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid reports that from January to October 2023, nearly 23 million Afghan citizens received assistance. The report details humanitarian organizations reaching 21.3 million individuals with food and livelihood support, 13.7 million with healthcare, 8.9 million with water, sanitation, and hygiene support, and 4.8 million children and pregnant lactating women with nutrition assistance during this period.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy of the Economy Ministry, acknowledges the impact of UN humanitarian aid in reducing poverty but urges aid organizations, including UN entities, to consider development sectors in their efforts.
A list published by The International Rescue Committee identifies 20 countries, including Afghanistan, at risk of worsening humanitarian crises in 2024. The situation demands urgent attention and concerted efforts to address the looming hunger crisis threatening the lives of Afghan children.
