WFP fears food shortage in November

The World Food Programme (WFP) expects a food shortage of about 60,000 mt in Afghanistan by November if donors do not step up their help, a WFP spokesman told IRIN on Monday. Alejandro Chicheri said from the Afghan capital, Kabul, that the latest WFP estimates put the shortfall at about 60,000 mt for the month of November and close to 20,000 mt for December. However, the situation could change if more donor help was there, he added. "We expect the donors to be as generous as they have been in the past because the need [of food] is still acute," Chicheri noted. "WFP's emergency operation in Afghanistan still faces food shortages in the pipeline that cause difficulties in the approval of project proposals as well as constraints in the release of food for ongoing projects, particularly in the Northern region," said a WFP statement issued in Kabul on Sunday. Chicheri said approximately 65 percent, or US $186.8 million, of the requirements have so far been met through the carry over stocks and additional help of 19 donors, including the United States, which is the largest donor to WFP, accounting for about 40 percent of the total aid. The UN's food agency also needs to pre-position food for the harsh winter months when snow makes many parts of Afghanistan inaccessible. The spokesman said pre-positioning of food takes place in September and October because distribution becomes difficult in November and December. Meanwhile, according to the latest bulletin by the United Nations Joint Logistic Cell (UNJLC) a meeting of the donors will be held in Kabul on Tuesday to raise awareness of logistics related to Afghan winter. "Although pre-positioning food and non-food items is the most cost effective safeguard for areas inaccessible during winter, commodities or funding must be available immediately for this to be a viable option," the UNJLC bulletin said.