Kuwait contributes half a million US dollars to support FAO emergency operations in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing what has rapidly become one of the world’s largest food crises. Almost half of the population – 19.7 million people – are experiencing acute hunger. This means they do not have adequate means to produce or access food for themselves and their families each day. Around 80 percent of these people are farmers and herders, whose lives, livelihoods, food security and incomes depend on agriculture.

In response to this unfolding crisis, the Government of Kuwait has donated 500 000 US dollars to FAO's efforts in support of people facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition in Afghanistan during a virtual signing ceremony today with H.E. Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim, Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations and FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechold.

"This new agreement reinforces the relationship between the State of Kuwait and FAO," said Ambassador Ghunaim. "We aim to work closer together to accelerate humanitarian efforts towards the people of Afghanistan who are suffering from hunger."

Most of those experiencing food insecurity are in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food, income and stability. They lack basic urgent supplies such as seeds to secure their staple food needs for the year, and animal feed to keep livestock alive and supplying milk to their children daily. Food security hinges on food production for Afghanistan’s predominately rural population, and agricultural livelihood systems are on the brink of collapse. Emergency livelihood assistance must reach rural Afghans in time seasonally to prevent massive livestock deaths, lost harvests and the long-term destitution, displacement and humanitarian needs that inevitably follow. Enabling people to continue farming and livestock-herding is a key element of the ongoing humanitarian response.

"Kuwait's generous contribution is vital to building the resilience of rural communities in Afghanistan and will further strengthen the collaboration between FAO and Kuwait ", said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechold at the signing ceremony.

The contribution aims to support FAO Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) in Afghanistan, which includes the provision of home gardening packages enabling a family to grow a wide variety of vegetables in just 4–12 weeks. The FAO Humanitarian Response Plan in Afghanistan also include distribution of basic crop production packages for farmers to produce up to 1.4 tonnes of wheat each worth about USD 650, and of feed and veterinary supplies to keep milking animals productive.

Kuwait’s donation will contribute to implement this plan and will help assist some of the 19.7 million severely food insecure Afghans who require immediate life- and livelihoods-saving emergency assistance.

Related Links:

Afghanistan: Humanitarian Response Plan 2022