CERF allocates nearly $1.5 million to food insecure farming families in Afghanistan
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People waiting in line for food distribution
[Photo: WFP]
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6 March 2009: Frequent drought, aggravated by low economic status, weak infrastructure and prolonged food insecurity, poses a serious threat to already vulnerable communities in Afghanistan. Drought-related crop failure and subsequent food shortages are among the root causes of acute and chronic malnutrition in Afghanistan.
Agricultural reports show that the cereal harvest, particular of wheat, will be the lowest experienced since 2002. From January 2007 to April 2008, the cost of wheat flour steadily rose in Afghanistan, with local prices affected by the general increase in grain prices across the world.
Restrictions on wheat imports from neighbouring countries may further inflate food prices, forcing farmers to consume seeds as grain. The provision of improved seed is crucial to ensuring crop production in the areas worst hit by drought and safeguarding the food security of affected communities.
To address the immediate humanitarian need related to food insecurity, CERF has allocated nearly $1.5 million for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to distribute wheat seed for the 2009 spring and autumn planting seasons in drought-affected areas of Afghanistan.
[Last Update: 9 March 2009]
CERF allocates nearly $2.7 million in response to the severe winter in Afghanistan
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A boy in Afghanistan [Photo: IRIN]
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19 February 2009: At the start of the winter Afghanistan experienced cold weather with no precipitation in most parts of the country. If the situation continues the population will be at risk for shortages of drinking water, food and appropriate shelter; acute malnutrition; and associated displacement.
According to data collected by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2008, between 70-100 percent of springs, karaizes and rivers dried up and resulted in placing more than one million people in 22 provinces at high risk of drinking water shortage. Further, 100 health facilities and 400 schools were also affected by the severe shortage of safe drinking water with dire consequences on sanitation and hygiene. Also in 2008, rising food prices left 1.2 million under-five children and 550,000 pregnant and lactating women in 22 provinces at high risk of severe malnutrition.
In response, CERF is providing funds to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to preposition large quantities of emergency WASH supplies, conduct village level hygiene education, transport water and set up community water points. Further UNICEF will provide high energy biscuits to children, screening and referral of severe acute malnutrition, nutrition education to mothers on infant and young child feeding, and feeding counseling and micronutrient supplementation to pregnant and lactating women. The World Health Organization (WHO) will provide rapid emergency response to disease outbreaks exacerbated by harsh winter conditions. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will provide 3,000 vulnerable families with charcoal to be used for heating during the winter and early spring.
[Last Update: 20 February 2009]