The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of US$1.7 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for early action supporting communities in Afghanistan before the drought gets worse and families are pushed to the brink.
Thanks to this contribution, nearly 8,000 families in Faryab Province will receive cash to help them prepare for the worsening drought and avoid forcing them to resort to extreme coping mechanisms. All families will receive US$150 and women-headed households and others with a family member with disability will receive an additional US$30.
"Acting ahead of predicted hazards to prevent or reduce humanitarian impacts on communities is more important than ever, when humanitarian action globally and in Afghanistan is lacking funding and we need to make most out of every dollar," said Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, Head of Office for OCHA Afghanistan. "The CERF has taken a leading role helping the humanitarian community act early."
More than one third of the rural population of Faryab is already experiencing crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity while the region is faced with an escalating drought.
In Afghanistan erratic extreme weather patterns are becoming the norm. Last year, every province in Afghanistan experienced an environmental shock, notably devastating floods and recurring droughts.
"Every farming family in Faryab sees the drought is worsening and knows already that the next harvest will suffer. Our data shows the same. Acting early and supporting these vulnerable families now saves lives and saves money," said John Aylieff, WFP's Country Director in Afghanistan.
CERF has been an outstanding partner to WFP's operations, supporting rapid, effective and principled humanitarian action in Afghanistan. From 2022 to 2024, CERF contributed more than US$33 million through WFP, saving lives across some of the country's most vulnerable communities.
