The World Food Program (WFP) has announced that, due to a lack of funding, it can only provide emergency food aid to 1 million of Afghanistan’s 12 million hungry people.

The organization stated that it needs $617 million to maintain all its food programs through the end of 2024.

On Tuesday, October 8, WFP said in a statement that due to the financial crisis, 1.4 million mothers and children in Afghanistan will be deprived of access to nutritious food aid.

The organization also mentioned that the financial crisis has jeopardized its food aid programs, which began after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021.

WFP highlighted that climate change and environmental crises in many areas of Afghanistan have destroyed the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable people. The organization noted that recent heavy rains and floods in some villages have caused significant damage to the local people’s ability to sustain themselves.

Additionally, thousands of Afghan families have been forcibly deported from Pakistan and returned to Afghanistan without any resources. These families lack adequate means to provide for their children or secure their livelihoods in the country.

Last week, WFP announced that at least 12 million people in Afghanistan are uncertain about where their next meal will come from.

According to the report, there are currently 4 million infants and pregnant mothers in Afghanistan suffering from malnutrition.

The funding shortage and worsening humanitarian conditions have left millions of people in Afghanistan on the brink of starvation, with a particularly devastating impact on women and children.

The international community’s response to this crisis will be crucial in preventing further deterioration and alleviating widespread hunger.

Participants in the sixth Moscow Format meeting issued a joint statement on Friday, October 4th, expressing concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, calling it a threat to global security.

The participating delegations assessed the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan as a regional and global threat. They called on the Taliban to prevent the use of Afghanistan’s territory against neighboring countries, the region, and beyond.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted the sixth Moscow Format meeting, attended by representatives from Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Islamic Emirate.

The joint declaration emphasized the need for unified efforts in the region to prevent the spread of terrorism while also stressing the importance of political dialogue and economic cooperation to stabilize Afghanistan.

The international community continues to press the Taliban administration to fulfill its commitments to combat terrorism and maintain security within and beyond Afghanistan’s borders.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban, claimed that ISIS has recruitment centres outside Afghanistan’s borders and uses these centres to carry out destructive activities within Afghanistan.

Regional powers, including Russia and China, have emphasized that Afghanistan’s stability is crucial for the security of neighboring countries and broader global interests.

The sixth Moscow Format meeting highlights growing concerns over Afghanistan’s security situation and the international community’s call for decisive action against terrorist groups.

As Afghanistan’s leadership faces increasing pressure from global and regional powers, the need for effective counterterrorism strategies and international cooperation to ensure regional and global stability becomes more urgent.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted that Afghanistan is the sixth most vulnerable country to climate crises and emphasized its investment in flood prediction and food preparation for high-risk areas.

On Saturday, October 5th, the WFP said that its early warning system can predict where floods are likely to occur and identify which areas are most at risk.

The report mentioned that with the implementation of this system, WFP can provide emergency assistance to high-risk regions of the country up to three months in advance.

Gabriela Luz, a member of WFP’s Early Warning and Famine Prevention team, warned that this winter in the Northern Hemisphere will likely result in decreased rainfall and snowfall in Afghanistan.

The WFP report also stated that 12.4 million people in Afghanistan are currently facing hunger.

Previously, the WFP noted that floods in northern Afghanistan had affected over 80,000 people and that $14 million is needed to address the country’s climate and food crises.

The WFP’s efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change aim to reduce the risk of natural disasters, such as floods, which have devastated Afghan communities.

The WFP has called for international support to help fund its operations in Afghanistan, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary aid in time.

Afghanistan’s ongoing climate challenges and the country’s economic difficulties have exacerbated the food insecurity crisis, leaving millions of people in dire need of assistance.

As winter approaches, the WFP is scaling up its efforts to deliver food and other essential supplies to regions expected to be hardest hit by harsh weather and possible floods.

The WFP’s proactive approach to predicting and preparing for natural disasters in Afghanistan is crucial in mitigating the effects of climate change. However, substantial financial and international support remains critical to addressing the ongoing crises.

With millions of Afghans facing hunger and the country highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, global cooperation is essential in providing the necessary resources to combat both the immediate and long-term effects of these challenges.

The donors’ conference for Afghanistan began on Thursday, October 3rd, hosted by the United Nations in Dubai.

At this conference, both domestic and international organizations, along with political representatives from various countries, are discussing aid to Afghanistan, which is currently under Taliban control and facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

Participants discussed ways to provide aid to Afghanistan, exchanging views on the best approaches and reaffirming their commitment to continue offering humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan.

They reviewed monitoring mechanisms and emphasized the importance of transparency in delivering aid to ensure it reaches those in need.

Participants also expressed that Afghanistan remains at the center of the strategies of donor organizations and countries.

However, they stressed that “it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create conditions where Afghans can sustain themselves through employment, rather than relying continuously on international aid.”

The conference also addressed the challenges posed by the Taliban’s new restrictions under the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law. This law has imposed severe limitations, particularly against women. Under this law, women cannot leave their homes without a male guardian, and their voices are considered indecent in public spaces.

According to a United Nations report, Afghanistan is facing one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. At least 23 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance. However, there are concerns about the reduction of these aid efforts.

Some countries and international organizations have also expressed concerns that the Taliban may misuse humanitarian aid for other purposes.

Karen Decker, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, who attended the donors’ conference, told the media that since the fall of the Afghan Republic, the United States has provided $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Ms. Decker also mentioned that the results of the work conducted by two economic and narcotics groups from the “Doha 3” discussions would soon be reviewed by the United Nations, and the next major Doha meeting will also take place.

The donors’ conference highlights both the urgency and complexity of providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. While there is a commitment to helping millions of Afghans in need, concerns about transparency and the Taliban’s restrictions, especially on women’s rights, continue to challenge the international community’s efforts.

The call for a long-term solution emphasizes that Afghanistan’s future should not rely solely on aid. Sustainable employment and self-sufficiency must be at the core of any strategy to help the Afghanistan’s people build a better future.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has stated that there is no consensus on whether the Taliban officials will participate in the upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan.

According to the TASS news agency, Rudenko explained to reporters that invitations to the summit are made based on the consensus of BRICS members.

He also mentioned that the Taliban’s unrecognized status poses a challenge, which will be considered when deciding its participation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in  Kabul has officially requested to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan.

The summit will begin on October 22 and last until October 24, 2024.

Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, reported that the Taliban sent a letter to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting participation in the BRICS summit in Kazan. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister, expressed interest in attending the summit.

BRICS members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This year, the group expanded to include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia.

Despite being on Russia’s blacklist, the Taliban maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, is in Moscow for an Afghanistan meeting on October 4 under the Moscow Format.

The Taliban’s diplomatic engagement with Russia highlights their efforts to gain international recognition despite being officially unrecognized by the global community.