Afghanistan Faces a Perfect Storm of Starvation, Conflict, and Covid
It’s like a sitcom gone wrong – only the punchlines are people starving in Kabul, the economy crashing, and a pandemic hanging over the headlines.
WFP’s executive director, David Beasley, took to the stage on Monday, August 24 (sorry, Tuesday is just a misprint in the sources) to issue a State of the Union‑style warning.
Why the Numbers Are Spiking
“With years of drought, conflict, and a collapsing economy, all twisted together with Covid, we’re now staring at 14 million people on the brink of hunger,” Beasley told Reuters.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is counting on a big cash raise – US$200 million (≈S$271 million) – to keep food trucks rolling. Missing that quota means the next winter could see 4 million lives lost.
Funding: The Heart of the Crisis
- Afghanistan’s fortunes plummeted after the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15.
- Donor countries froze aid and reserves – a move that’s sent the country into a financial black hole.
- Beasley says “we’re stuck on a cliff, and time’s running out” – hoping the US, Qatar, and other Gulf states rush in.
Without that US$200 million, the WFP plans to run out of reserves next month, turning millions’ hopes into a bitter recipe for famine. Think of it as a shortage of the main course at a dinner party.
COVID’s Sneaky Role
WHO’s notes: the drug supplies already in the country have a one‑week shelf life when deliveries halt, because the airport is a no‑go zone.
There’s also a spike in COVID‑19 possible infections—no brightside in this storyline. The WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean office signals that “this is a perfect storm” for hearts failing as much as throats emptier.
Taliban’s Cooperation: Mixed Bag
Beasley tries to sweeten the story: the Taliban has kept the aid lanes open and has let the WFP stay neutral and impartial. They’ve promised not to tax aid vehicles. A positive note in a bleak period.
European Union’s Takeoff
On Tuesday, August 24, the EU hinted at stepping up its game, upping the support for Afghans inside the country and for refugees abroad – from 50 million euros to 200 million euros (S$319 million).
Leading EU officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, are readying a coalition with the G‑7 to tackle the crisis head‑on.
What Needs to Happen Next?
“We need the funds now and the politics solved fast,” Beasley concludes. The situation refuses to wait for a polite negotiation. It’s a call to action, not a polite invitation.
Will the world rise to this call? The clock ticks, and the people in Afghanistan, left dozing between hunger and despair, need it now the most.
