The Starving Silence: Afghanistan's Hunger Crisis Unveiled

Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's most extensive and severe hunger crises, with nearly 20 million people—almost half of the population—suffering from acute food insecurity. This crisis is a result of several factors, including extended drought, conflict, political instability, economic collapse, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taliban's takeover of the country and subsequent US-led economic sanctions have also played a significant role in exacerbating the situation. The loss of foreign aid and financial restrictions have resulted in a liquidity crisis, making it difficult for Afghans to access food even when it is available in the markets. Humanitarian organisations are providing food assistance, but the scale of the crisis is immense, and more international support is needed to address the urgent needs of the Afghan people.

The Taliban's takeover has resulted in the loss of foreign aid, which represented over 40% of Afghanistan's GDP

Afghanistan is facing one of the world's most extensive and severe hunger crises, with acute food insecurity surging in 2022. The crisis is affecting over 20 million people, which is more than half of the population. The primary causes of this crisis are extended drought, conflict, political instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has significantly exacerbated the country's hunger crisis. One of the most detrimental consequences of the Taliban's rule has been the loss of foreign aid, which represented a significant portion of Afghanistan's economy. According to the World Bank, under the previous Western-backed government, 43% of Afghanistan's GDP came from foreign aid, and about 75% of public spending was funded by foreign aid grants. This aid was crucial for the country's development and the well-being of its citizens.

However, following the Taliban's takeover, many countries and international organizations halted their aid to Afghanistan. The US, the EU, Germany, and Finland were among those who suspended or froze their aid to the country. This sudden loss of foreign aid had a devastating impact on Afghanistan's economy, which was already fragile due to decades of conflict and political instability.

The freezing of assets and aid by the international community was intended to prevent the Taliban from accessing these resources. However, it has had far-reaching consequences for the Afghan people, sending financial shockwaves throughout the country. The economy is on the brink of collapse, and the humanitarian crisis is worsening. The loss of foreign aid has disrupted the functioning of many vital sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the situation is critical, and Afghanistan is at risk of facing a famine this winter. The WFP and other humanitarian organizations are racing to provide food and assistance, but they depend on donor generosity. The Taliban's governance and human rights record, particularly regarding women and girls, has also hindered efforts to secure additional aid and reach an agreement to resolve the banking crisis.

The US and other governments revoked the Central Bank of Afghanistan's credentials, causing a liquidity crisis and lack of banknotes

Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's most extensive and severe hunger crises, with nearly 20 million people—almost half the population—facing acute hunger. The crisis has been driven by several factors, including extended drought, conflict, political instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic. One significant factor contributing to the crisis is the economic collapse that followed the Taliban's takeover of the country and the subsequent decision by the US and other governments to revoke the credentials of the Central Bank of Afghanistan.

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized control of Kabul and established an Islamic Emirate. In response, the US, other governments, and the World Bank Group revoked the Central Bank of Afghanistan's credentials to interact with the international banking system and frozen its assets. This decision has had a devastating impact on the country's economy and has led to a liquidity crisis and a lack of banknotes. The Central Bank has been unable to access its foreign currency reserves or process international transactions, hindering legitimate economic activities and humanitarian efforts.

The loss of access to foreign reserves has resulted in a shortage of US dollars and Afghan currency, afghanis, in the country. The Central Bank has imposed restrictions on transfers of banknotes to private banks and limited withdrawals of afghanis. Private banks, already struggling with a lack of cash, have been unable to cover withdrawals, including those by humanitarian aid organizations. The inability to access funds has affected businesses, humanitarian groups, and ordinary Afghans, with many struggling to purchase food and other basic necessities.

The economic crisis has been further exacerbated by rising inflation and increasing costs of essential goods. Prices for staples such as rice and wheat have doubled, while prices for agricultural inputs like fertilizer and fuel have also doubled, impacting domestic food production. The combination of economic shocks and the loss of income for millions of Afghans has resulted in a massive liquidity crisis and a lack of access to cash, contributing significantly to the hunger crisis in Afghanistan.

The country is facing one of its worst droughts, causing crops to fail and livestock to perish

Afghanistan is facing one of its worst droughts in decades, with severe drought hitting more than 80% of the country. The drought has been exacerbated by a geographical phenomenon called La Niña, which has caused faster evaporation and reduced precipitation in the country. As a result, crops have failed to grow, and livestock have perished, leading to a shortage of food and water for both people and animals.

The impact of the drought on Afghanistan's agricultural sector has been devastating. The country relies heavily on agriculture, with the sector supporting the livelihoods of about three-quarters of the population and accounting for 28% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The failure of crops, particularly wheat, has led to food shortages and forced people to leave their land. The loss of livestock due to a lack of fodder and water has also affected meat and dairy production, further reducing the availability of food for the population.

The drought has had severe consequences for the people of Afghanistan. Families have struggled to cope with the lack of food and water, and many have been forced to flee their homes. The situation has been made worse by the ongoing conflict in the country, which has limited access to resources and made it difficult for aid organizations to reach those in need. The economic crisis in Afghanistan has also contributed to the problem, with rising food prices and a lack of purchasing power making it difficult for people to afford basic necessities.

The Afghan Red Crescent Society and other humanitarian organizations have been providing emergency food relief and winter survival kits to the people affected by the drought. However, the vast majority of families remain unassisted, and additional funding is needed to expand humanitarian operations. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has appealed to the international community for more support to address the escalating hunger crisis in Afghanistan.

The war in Ukraine has put pressure on Afghanistan's wheat supply, food commodities, agricultural inputs, and fuel prices

Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world's most extensive and severe hunger crises, with acute food insecurity affecting over half of its population. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated this situation by putting pressure on Afghanistan's wheat supply, food commodities, agricultural inputs, and fuel prices.

As two of the world's biggest wheat producers, Ukraine and Russia's conflict has disrupted wheat exports from the region, causing a global wheat supply shortage. Afghanistan, which relies heavily on wheat as a staple food, is vulnerable to the reduced wheat exports from Ukraine, which accounted for about 90% of the country's wheat exports. The limited quantities of wheat exports from Ukraine using alternative means are not sufficient to meet global demand.

The war in Ukraine has also contributed to rising food commodity prices globally. In the months following the invasion, prices for grains like soybeans and some vegetable oils spiked by 50-60%. While these prices have since stabilized, they have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The cost of a healthy diet has increased in most countries, with edible oil prices, particularly sunflower oil, seeing record increases.

Agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers and fuel, have also become more expensive due to the war. The global fertilizer market was already under stress before the war due to rising natural gas prices, and the conflict has further disrupted supply. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in sanctions and export bans on Russian fertilizers, leading to reduced agricultural yields and production, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies.

The combined effects of reduced wheat exports from Ukraine, higher food commodity prices, and more expensive agricultural inputs have put immense pressure on Afghanistan's food security. The country was already facing economic, environmental, and development issues, as well as a rapid increase in acute food insecurity. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated these challenges, making it more difficult for Afghanistan to address its hunger crisis.

The economic crisis has resulted in a lack of jobs and incomes, with small enterprises and private companies laying off employees

Afghanistan's economic crisis has led to a severe lack of jobs and incomes, with small businesses and private companies being forced to lay off employees. The country's economy has been in a downward spiral since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with development aid and assets largely frozen. The loss of international recognition and foreign aid has resulted in a massive economic contraction, with the GDP contracting by about 20% in 2021 and a further 6.2% in 2022.

The impact of this economic crisis on businesses and employment has been devastating. Many businesses have been forced to shut down or scale down their operations due to reduced demand, lower incomes, and disruptions in the payment system and supply chains. The private sector has been particularly affected, with tens of thousands of highly skilled Afghans fleeing the country and a sharp decline in investment confidence.

The loss of jobs has resulted in a significant increase in unemployment, with the proportion of households unable to meet basic food needs more than doubling from 16% to 36%. The situation is even more dire for female-headed households, as Taliban policies have barred women from most paid jobs. According to surveys, nearly 100% of these households face insufficient food consumption, and 85% are taking drastic measures to obtain food.

The economic crisis has also severely impacted the banking sector. The Central Bank of Afghanistan has been cut off from the international banking system and unable to access its foreign currency reserves, leading to a liquidity crisis and shortages of banknotes. This has had a ripple effect on private banks, which struggle to cover withdrawals and are unable to extend credit.

The combination of economic shocks, income loss, and rising food costs has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with acute malnutrition and hunger affecting millions of Afghans. The situation is particularly dire in rural and remote areas, where crops have failed and livestock has perished due to drought and natural disasters.

The economic crisis in Afghanistan has resulted in a lack of jobs and incomes, forcing small enterprises and private companies to lay off employees. The impact of these layoffs on households, especially those headed by women, has been devastating and has contributed to the country's worsening humanitarian crisis.

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