WFP responds to the earthquakes in Afghanistan amid rising humanitarian needs

Here's an update on WFP's earthquake response in Afghanistan.

Food Security Situation:

• The earthquakes have exacerbated an already critical food security and nutrition crisis across the country - with more than 9 million people - or one in every five facing acute food insecurity - and acute malnutrition among children and mothers at record highs.
• Even prior to the earthquake, the eastern provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar- the hardest hit quake areas - were already facing crisis levels of acute malnutrition, largely due to severe reductions in humanitarian funding and services. WFP teams on the ground fear the situation will deteriorate further.
• The quake-hit region is also facing an influx of Afghan families forcibly expelled from Pakistan, many returning to shattered homes and farmland in eastern Afghanistan.
• WFP teams on the ground are observing alarming levels of acute malnutrition among returnee mothers and children, compounding the strain on limited humanitarian resources.
• The situation is expected to deteriorate further as winter begins and remote communities, including in the mountainous east, become isolated by snow and rain.

WFP Operations:

• WFP was the first international agency to reach Kunar province, delivering food aid within hours of the earthquake.
• WFP has delivered emergency food assistance to over 58,000 people in the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar and Laghman.
• The WFP-led United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has facilitated flights to transport both passengers and relief cargo to Jalalabad, a city located near the quake's epicentre.
• UNHAS has also deployed a helicopter to transport staff and deliver relief supplies to remote, quake-hit areas.
• As part of its logistics support to the wider humanitarian community, WFP has coordinated the transport of relief supplies from multiple locations to communities impacted by the earthquake - with additional deliveries currently underway.
• WFP has also set up storage tents to support the broader humanitarian response.
• Supporting Information and Communications Technology services for the humanitarian community, WFP deployed VSAT internet and UHF radio services in Kunar province to facilitate emergency operations. WFP also installed solar power systems to ensure sustainable energy for critical communications and humanitarian coordination.

Operational Challenges and Funding:

• The quake-affected area is a mountainous region, where rugged terrain, poor road networks and weak phone connectivity have left communities completely cut off - making it even harder for humanitarian teams to respond.
• WFP's nationwide response continues to face significant funding shortfalls, forcing WFP to reduce support to less than one million people per month. The recent earthquake has placed even greater pressure on already stretched resources.
• WFP's total funding gap for the operation in Afghanistan stands at US$622 million for the next six months.
• WFP's earthquake response in eastern Afghanistan was possible thanks to contributions from the Asian Development Bank, Canada, Japan, Switzerland and UN CERF.

Note to the editor:

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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