Millions of Afghans ‘at risk this winter’ due to food shortages

THE World Food Programme in Afghanistan yesterday warned it is facing a food shortage that could put millions of Afghans at risk this winter.

Ebadullah Ebadi, a WFP spokesman in Kabul, said the UN agency has received only 34% of requested funds this year, and that recentdonations have come too late to be converted into food deliveries before winter.

“Unfortunately right now we have no food,” said Ebadi.

He said the WFP, a principal aid provider in Afghanistan, has committed to providing food for 2.3 million people in areas where winter arrives early. If the food is not on time, the lives of those people will be at risk, he said.

Meanwhile, NATO forces shot dead two civilians whose vehicle was speeding toward their patrol, while Nato and Afghan troops killed three Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, officials said yesterday.

In Kabul province, Afghan and coalition forces fatally shot a man and captured four others for “their involvement in terrorist activity”.