In an era when more risks are becoming profound realities, HotSpots H2O helps make sense of a changing, often stressed global waterscape.
HotSpots H2O, October 1: Protestors Fight Privatization In Water-Stressed El Salvador
HotSpots H2O, September 24: Yemen at ‘Tipping Point’ of Famine as Violence Obstructs Food, Fuel Access
HotSpots H2O, September 17: Tribal Clashes Leave Several Dead In Kenya as Resources, Aid Dry Up
HotSpots H2O, September 10: Deadly Protests in Iraq’s Oil Hub Driven by Polluted Water, Government Neglect
HotSpots H2O, August 27: Gaza Fuel Shortage Could Shut Down Hospitals, Water, and Sanitation Facilities
HotSpots H2O, August 20: Taliban Attack on Ghazni, Afghanistan, Cuts Off Water, Power
HotSpots H2O, August 13: Intercommunal Violence Escalates in Ethiopia, Displacing One Million People
HotSpots H2O, August 6: Poorly-Defined Water Rights Spark Disputes Over Brazil’s Rivers
HotSpots H2O, July 30: Despite Ceasefire, Shelling Continues to Damage Water Infrastructure in Eastern Ukraine
HotSpots H2O, July 23: Chaos Engulfs Venezuela as Mismanagement and Drought Cut Water Access
HotSpots H2O, July 16: War, Drought, and Upstream Dams Hinder Water Access in Iraq
HotSpots H2O, July 9: Protests in Iran Turn Violent as Discontent Over Water Scarcity Grows
Closing the Gap: Afghanistan’s Hunger Crisis in the Spotlight
/in HotSpots H2O/by Zara GoundenBy Zara Gounden, Circle of Blue – April 30, 2024
Rich countries are falling short in providing essential support to combat hunger and water scarcity in low income nations, according to The Action Against Hunger 2024 Hunger Funding Gap Report. Published annually by Action Against Hunger, the report highlights a stark reality: Approximately 65 percent of funding requests went unmet for countries facing hunger crises.
Among the striking examples in this report is Afghanistan, where over 41 percent of people face crisis-level hunger or worse, the hunger funding gap stands at 72 percent. Even more concerning is the finding that despite urgent appeals, countries received only a third of the requested funding for hunger-related programs the following year.
After the 6.3-magnitude earthquakes in October 2023 and the unpredictable weather patterns accompanying the summer season, access to food and water has and will become increasingly challenging in Afghanistan.
Other studies have found similar dire circumstances. According to the World Food Program, 15.8 million Afghans are grappling with insufficient food consumption. Additionally, acute malnutrition surpasses emergency thresholds in 25 out of 34 provinces, painting a dire picture of the nation’s nutritional challenges.
The dual challenges of conflict and weather hazards hinder farmers from sowing their crops and often lead to the destruction of existing crops.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that 25 out of 34 provinces experience either severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting more than 50 per cent of the population.
Initiatives spearheaded by the FAO and the UN have made strides in ameliorating the situation. However, it remains a pressing concern. A key element exacerbating this challenge has been the series of consecutive droughts Afghanistan faced this year, and in the last few years. This reversal has adversely affected the entire nation.
Zara is a reporting intern at Circle of Blue. She is a Davis Scholar in her third year at New York University London, majoring in Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Politics, Rights, and Development.
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Previous HotSpots H2O
- Closing the Gap: Afghanistan’s Hunger Crisis in the SpotlightApril 30, 2024 - 12:57 pm
- Water Depletion: A Pivotal Concern In Mexico’s 2024 ElectionFebruary 7, 2024 - 12:59 pm
- Hotspots H20: Israel Pledges to Resume Gaza Water DeliveriesOctober 17, 2023 - 4:48 pm
- Water Migrants: Reaching European ShoresSeptember 12, 2023 - 2:37 pm
- Water Migrants: Crisis in the Mediterranean Episode 2August 23, 2023 - 11:19 am
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