ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A U.N. agency said on Friday hundreds
of thousands of Afghans could face starvation unless it receives
some $54 million in food to feed the population through the
winter. "If WFP does not receive fresh pledges soon, it will
run out of food by February of next year," said Gerard van Dijk,
the country director for the World Food Program. "If we do not
receive new pledges this month, we will have to cut down or
stop our operations in Afghanistan at a time when Afghans will
be in the midst of the pre-harvest 'hungry season,'" he said
in a statement.
The
situation in a country used to chronic hunger and suffering
its 21st year of war, has been made worse by a drought the WFP
estimates has affected up to 12 million Afghans, up to four
million severely. "Hundreds of thousands of poor Afghans face
starvation in a few months if the agency does not get the resources
it needs to continue an emergency operation during Afghanistan's
worst drought in decades," the WFP said.
Van
Dijk warned of widespread famine if the rains fail again. But
even if the drought ends, many of the 22 million Afghans would
face a difficult winter while they await next spring's harvest.
"We have received some donations and pledges over the last few
months but they fell short of our appeal," he said. "The devastating
drought has forced us to accelerate deliveries of food and our
resources are rapidly depleting."
