wfn.org | Church World Service Responds to 'Catastrophic' Afghan Food Crisis

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, Church World Service, (212) 870-2676,
lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

Afghanistan: Church World Service Responds to 'Catastrophic' Food Crisis

Millions facing food shortages, possible starvation in drought-,
conflict-stricken country

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN -- Friiday Feb. 27, 2009 - The most severe drought
in a decade is fueling a grave food crisis in Afghanistan that now
threatens millions of people with food shortages and possible
starvation, reports global humanitarian agency Church World Service.

The agency, with long-established offices and staff in Pakistan and
Afghanistan, today announced it is providing immediate assistance to the
most vulnerable in three challenged provinces and has issued a U.S.
fundraising appeal.

CWS is responding in three districts of Nangarhar Province, three
districts of Takhar Province and one district in Laghman Province, where
recent droughts have severely affected the residents' food security and
the inflow of Afghan returnees from neighboring countries has increased
the demand for food.

According to Abdur Rashid, head of the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization's Global Information and Early Warning System, the
situation in Afghanistan is catastrophic.

Church World Service staff report that an absence of the most basic
facilities and economic opportunities for the still-internally displaced
in Takhar Province, as well as those displaced now returning to
Nangarhar, have led to a situation in which people can't be assured of
one good meal a day for themselves and their families.

CWS is responding to food and safe shelter needs for the most
vulnerable, with assistance that:

* Builds greater and sustainable food production;

* Increases the efficiency of existing irrigation systems;

> * Provides clean water for families;

* Increases communities' resilience by strengthening livelihoods

"Life continues to be difficult for all Afghans, but the tens of
thousands of displaced Afghans and returnees from Pakistan and Iran are
particularly at risk," says CWS Asia and Pacific Region Coordinator
Marvin Parvez, who has also directed the CWS Pakistan/Afghanistan
program.

Preparation for next winter's cropping in the region begins this month.
CWS is assisting 1,300 farmers in Nangarhar and Takhar, providing
educational training, agricultural inputs to boost climate-adapted
agricultural production, and rehabilitation of irrigation systems for
increased efficiency and to mitigate damage from further droughts. To
500 farmers, the CWS team is supplying 25 metric tons of improved seeds
and 50 metric tons of fertilizers, as well as pesticides.

The agency is also providing a clean water supply for 1,000 families to
ward against water-borne diseases, constructing or drilling 40 water
supply wells with hand pumps. Additionally, 300 people are participating
in "food for work" projects constructing shelter for their families, and
free food packages are being distributed to 200 families.

The last decade's drought follows recurring droughts that have plagued
Afghanistan since 1999.

The land is critically degraded and agricultural productivity suffers
additionally from uncontrolled grazing, pastureland encroachment and
illegal logging. Much of the country remains insecure, as the country
struggles to recover after 23 years of continuous war.

Based on UN estimates, some 2.2 million tons of cereals need to be
imported into the country this year just to meet basic needs. Commercial
imports were expected to supply 1.5 million tons. But, in the current
situation -- marked by high prices and the smallest wheat harvest in
years -- any meaningful commercial imports of food and agricultural
inputs are unlikely. The bulk of the nearly 1 million-ton shortfall will
need to be met by the international donor community.

HOW TO HELP: Contributions to support Church World Service emergency
response and recovery efforts may be made online at

www.churchworldservice.org/emergencyaid

<http://www.churchworldservice.org/emergencyaid> ;

by phone at (800) 297-1516; or by mail to Church World Service, 
P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN
46515.

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