The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a US$1.7 million grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support early action in Afghanistan, aiming to assist vulnerable communities before the worsening drought pushes families to the brink of crisis.
Faryab Province – A US$1.7 million contribution from CERF will enable nearly 8,000 families in Faryab to receive emergency cash assistance to prepare for the worsening drought and avoid resorting to extreme coping strategies. Each household will receive US$150, with an additional US$30 provided to women-headed families and those with a member living with a disability.
“Acting ahead of predicted hazards to prevent or reduce humanitarian impacts on communities is more important than ever, when humanitarian action globally and in Afghanistan is lacking funding and we need to make most out of every dollar,” said Isabelle Moussard Carlsen, Head of Office for OCHA Afghanistan. “The CERF has taken a leading role helping the humanitarian community act early.”
More than one third of the rural population of Faryab is already experiencing crisis or emergency levels of acute food insecurity while the region is faced with an escalating drought.
In Afghanistan erratic extreme weather patterns are becoming the norm. Last year, every province in Afghanistan experienced an environmental shock, notably devastating floods and recurring droughts.
“Every farming family in Faryab sees the drought is worsening and knows already that the next harvest will suffer. Our data shows the same. Acting early and supporting these vulnerable families now saves lives and saves money,” said John Aylieff, WFP’s Country Director in Afghanistan.
CERF has been an outstanding partner to WFP’s operations, supporting rapid, effective and principled humanitarian action in Afghanistan. From 2022 to 2024, CERF contributed more than US$33 million through WFP, saving lives across some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
