RASC News Agency: The World Food Program (WFP) has announced that France will contribute $3.3 million to support essential food programs in Afghanistan, where hunger has reached devastating levels and is acutely affecting mothers and children. In its statement issued on Wednesday, November 13, the WFP detailed that France’s contribution will help fund nutritional assistance for mothers and children, as well as school meal programs across the country.
With this aid, approximately 15,000 Afghanistani students will receive daily school meals. Additionally, 60,000 children and over 10,000 pregnant and nursing mothers are set to benefit from access to nutritious food. Salina Grant Catalano, Director of Global Affairs at France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the urgency of addressing malnutrition in Afghanistan, stating, “More than three-quarters of families in Afghanistan are unable to maintain a nutritious diet.”
Catalano highlighted France’s commitment to fighting malnutrition, particularly as it prepares to host the upcoming Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris in March 2025. Harald Menhart, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan, welcomed the timely support, noting, “This contribution from France comes at a critical moment for Afghanistani mothers and children who have been disproportionately impacted by this hunger crisis.”
Menhart added that nine out of ten female-headed households in Afghanistan are unable to afford adequate food. In recent months, the Czech Republic and the European Union have also made significant contributions to WFP’s efforts in Afghanistan. These funds have been earmarked to aid vulnerable groups, including individuals with disabilities and those facing severe poverty.
