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United Kingdom supports the World Food Programme to help more than two million people survive winter in Afghanistan

KABUL – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan welcomes the latest contribution totaling GBP 28.7 million (US$36.5 million) from the Government of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The funds will go toward supporting WFP’s emergency response for food-insecure families and treat malnourished young children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers across the country.

“This latest support from the UK is helping WFP to reach more than two million food-insecure people across Afghanistan through the harsh winter,” said UK Minister of State for Middle East, South Asia and the UN Lord (Tariq) Ahmad. “The assistance goes to some of the most vulnerable people who have nearly no means to provide for themselves, notably widows, women- and children-headed families and people with disabilities.”

The funds will be used to buy a total 13,000 metric tons of wheat flour, vegetable oil, pulses and salt to support over 1 million people for one month. Up to 1 million people will also benefit from cash-based transfers to help cover their food needs during the winter. 

The funding has already allowed WFP to preposition 7,000 metrics tons of food for people living in remote, mountainous areas before snow and ice cut off communities, making it impossible to reach them for several months with assistance.

“The harsh Afghan winter is a countdown to zero for families across the country. It’s a time when communities are forced to burn through all their food and resources,” said Afghanistan’s Deputy Country Director Mutinta Chimuka, “the support from the UK is allowing us to help tens of thousands of vulnerable families through winter when hunger bites the hardest.”

In 2023, WFP has been able to reach more than 18 million people across the country, thanks to our partners’ generous contributions. The UK has been a steadfast partner of WFP - among the top five donors of WFP in Afghanistan - with contributions of GBP183.7 million (US$209 million) in the past two years.

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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.

Follow us on Twitter: @wfp_media @WFP_Afghanistan

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Contact

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Philippe Kropf, WFP/Kabul,

Mob. +93 707 271 901

Ziauddin Safi, WFP/Kabul,

Mob. +93 706 934 875 

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