Food Assistance Fact Sheet - Afghanistan

February 7, 2013

Food Security Situation

CIA World Factbook

• Despite growth in recent years, three decades of war, civil unrest and recurring natural disasters have left Afghanistan one of the poorest countries in the world. Millions of Afghans still live in severe poverty, with more than half the population living below the poverty line.

• Insecurity continues to be a major concern and threatends food security in some regions.  Insecurity also continues to undermine reconstruction efforts and restrict humanitarian interventions. 

• Above normal harvests in 2012 have helped to improve food security.  However, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are still over 486,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country.  Over 126,000 IDPs were displaced in 2012.

Food Assistance Programs

• The Office of Food for Peace (FFP) now targets nearly 325,000 food insecure Afghans.  Beneficiaries are located in food insecure rural and urban communities countrywide.

• FFP partners with the UN World Food Program (WFP).  Current activities include emergency food assistance, food for assets, IDP assistance, health activities, food for education, food for training, and urban social safety net activities.  FFP purchases food for these activities within the United States, locally in Afghanistan, and regionally in Central Asia.      

Food for Peace Contributions

Total Contributions:

Fiscal Year 2013 Contribution Breakdown:

Food Security Situation Information Provided by WFP and FEWS NET as of January 2013 

Country Specific Guidance

• Draft Afghanistan Country Specific Information - Fiscal Year 2012