In an era when more risks are becoming profound realities, HotSpots H2O helps make sense of a changing, often stressed global waterscape.
HotSpots H2O, July 2: Tensions Simmer Across India as Water Supply Falters
HotSpots H2O, June 25: Boko Haram Impedes Water Access In Northeast Nigeria As Lake Chad Shrinks
HotSpots H2O, June 18: Yemen’s Water Supply Jeopardized Again in Battle for Hodeidah
HotSpots H2O, June 11: Over 200,000 Rohingya Refugees At Risk from Monsoon Flooding, Landslides
HotSpots H2O, June 4: Thousands Go Thirsty as Fighting Halts Desalination in Derna, Libya
HotSpots H2O, May 29: Year After Siege, Water Shortages Linger in Philippines City
HotSpots H2O, May 21: Drought, Then Floods, Destabilize Kenya
HotSpots H2O, May 14: Water Shortages, Malnutrition, and Ebola Overwhelm the Congo
HotSpots H2O, May 7: Yemen Risks Another Cholera Outbreak During Rainy Season, Ramadan
HotSpots H2O, April 23: Spotlight on South Sudan
HotSpots H2O, April 16: Spotlight on the Refugee Influx in Uganda
HotSpots H2O, April 9: Spotlight on Libya
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.
Subscribe
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
© 2023 Circle of Blue – all rights reserved
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy