Afghan humanitarian crisis - 29th November 2021

People in Afghanistan are facing “hell on earth”, says the head of the World Food Programme David Beasley.

The World Food Programme estimates that 22.8 million people, more than 50 percent of the population, face a lack of food and 3.2 million children, malnutrition.

The worst drought in 27 years has hit farmers. The national currency, the afghani, has fallen against the dollar. This makes imports much more expensive. The price of fuel has risen by 27 percent and for wheat flour 31 percent since June.

David Beasley's view of the situation is very worrying, "It is as bad as you possibly can imagine... we're now looking at the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth. 95 percent of the people don't have enough food, and now we're looking at 23 million people marching towards starvation."

Before the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August, there was hope the government of President Ashraf Ghani would be able to manage a bad winter, with the help of the international community.

But now, western governments have cut aid to the country. They don't want to support a government that blocks girls from education.

Beasley is calling for help from world leaders, "Imagine that this was your little girl or your little boy, or your grandchild about to starve to death." He then exclaimed, "We let any child die from hunger. Shame on us. I don't care where that child is."