Special team formed to assess drought in Afghanistan: OCHA

KABUL (TOLOnews): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced the formation of a task force to assess drought conditions in Afghanistan.

During a meeting with the acting director of the National Disaster Management Authority, the UN delegation stated that if signs of drought are identified by this team, $10 million will be allocated to manage the situation.

This task force includes the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Organization for Migration, UNICEF, and the Red Cross Federation.

“OCHA has set up a team which, if it encounters or confirms signs of drought in Afghanistan, will spend $10 million to provide improved seeds for farmers and livestock in Afghanistan,” said Janan Saiq, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Meanwhile, Save the Children has announced a shortfall of $4.2 million to implement its winter assistance program in Afghanistan.

Under this program, health, education, and cash assistance for heating homes in winter will be provided to 18,000 families.

Sayed Farooq, a Kabul resident, said, “I earn 80 to 100 afghani a day. How can I live with eight family members? If I buy flour, I can’t afford oil; if I buy oil, what about flour? Should I pay rent or buy food?”

“We earn 100 afghani a day. If we buy food, it’s not enough, and if we spend on other needs, food runs short. We ask the government to support us,” said Another Kabul resident, Mohammad Agha.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy announced that the country has been affected by recent droughts and floods and needs global cooperation to address these issues.

“We seek cooperation in public welfare and infrastructure sectors as we need roads, bridges, and schools to be built, and we need to prevent the destruction of agricultural lands,” said Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy.

Previously, the World Food Program and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported an increase in food insecurity in 22 countries, including Afghanistan. According to the joint report, conflicts, climate crises, and economic pressures will put millions of people in critical conditions in the coming months.