ASIA/AFGHANISTAN - Nine million people risk starvation

Kabul (Agenzia Fides) - The drought in northern, northwestern and western Afghanistan, is putting other 1.5-2 million people at the risk of starvation, in addition to the seven million around the country who already live under conditions of famine. In a normal year, Afghanistan produces 4.5 million tons of wheat and about a million tons are imported. The decrease of 1.9 million tonnes of wheat this year means that more must be imported and must be secured from other sources. The growth of food necessities caused by the prolonged drought is added to the cut in funding for food programs planned for the country. The World Food Program was initially established to support more than 7 million Afghans this year, but currently has resources for only 4 million. Even President Hamid Karzai has expressed concern about the situation, stating that the current drought in some provinces in the country is causing serious harm to people's lives and their livelihoods. All sources of water, including groundwater, have dried up also causing damage to irrigate the fields and crops. Most of the supplies of wheat will be covered by the reserves of the government and importation, however, additional food aid will be necessary. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 13/09/2011)