Warning of Afghan drought effects
A drought means Afghan people will struggle for food over the winter, aid agencies have warned
Millions of Afghans face hunger following a severe drought that has left them unprepared for a harsh winter, aid agencies have warned.
Save the Children and Oxfam say more than two million people may experience food shortages this winter while many could be cut off by extreme weather.
The agencies called for a redoubling of aid to reach people in need before the onset of heavy snow. Poor rains earlier this year mean families in the drought-affected provinces have not been able to grow enough wheat for over the winter. According to a United Nations assessment, almost all of the harvest has been destroyed in some provinces.
Food prices have also soared, with the price of wheat in some areas doubling on average since this time last year.
Manohar Shenoy, Oxfam's country director for Afghanistan, said: "Time is running out to be able to provide communities with the help they most desperately need before a harsh winter makes many areas inaccessible.
"Snow is already falling and many mountainous areas are likely to be cut off within weeks.
"Villagers who are used to hardship are telling us that this year the drought has destroyed everything. Their food stocks are already low and they are worried about how they will get through the coming months."
Aid agencies say that families are coping by cutting down their meals, borrowing money and even moving to Iran or Pakistan. It is thought that 90% of households in the affected areas are now living in debt after borrowing money to buy food and schools have closed as children are being put out to work.
Typical Afghan weather patterns mean that those living in mountainous areas will almost certainly soon be cut off from help as winter closes in. Aid agencies are currently working with people in the country to help to better prepare them for future droughts and other emergencies.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said: "Britain is already helping feed more than 400,000 children in parts of Afghanistan which are vulnerable to food shortages. We are working closely with the Afghan government and UN agencies on the worrying issues raised by Oxfam and Save the Children and we are already funding the International Red Cross to work in areas at risk."
Press Association
