Food crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a serious food crisis caused by long-term drought and exacerbated by rising global food prices.

The situation

The last ten years have seen Afghanistan suffer from ongoing and persistent drought. Poor winter snowfall has meant water shortages are likely over the summer, threatening this year's harvest. All over Afghanistan, crops are showing signs of damage including stunted growth and disease.

Food grain shortages around the world have also resulted in a dramatic rise in food prices. The situation in Badakshan and Hazarajat regions is reported to be especially grim, with many of the most vulnerable families facing famine-like conditions. Hazarajat, in particular, is a chronically poor region whose minority population faces traditional discrimination.

Oxfam's response

We are buying grain and setting up 25 grain banks around Daikundi province in Hazarajat which will provide support to 700-800 families for the next three months. These are an innovative measure in Afghanistan where grain banks are rare.

Plans are in place for the grain banks to be managed by Local Community Development Councils. These will manage the borrowing processes, and the return of grain once the next harvest is in.

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July 2008