Highlights
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WFP Afghanistan is closely following the internally displaced persons (IDPs) situation in the country.
WFP is ready to provide immediate food assistance to any emergencies in coordination with the Government and other humanitarian agencies. In addition, WFP is working on an Emergency Operation in response to returnees (documented and undocumented returnees) from Pakistan and increased number of IDPs. -
Timely contributions maximizing the use of funds received from donors to attend to the needs of people assisted. With the potential for surplus grain from 2016 harvest in Afghanistan. WFP can maximize the value of donor contributions, while supporting local markets, if funds are received now.
Operational Updates
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From January to July 2016, WFP provided emergency food assistance to 765,244 people including IDPs fleeing conflict, those affected by natural disasters, economically stressed people and refugees in Khost and Paktika provinces.
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Under its nutrition programme, WFP treated 85,350 malnourished children and 84,639 acutely malnourished pregnant women and nursing mothers, including their family members (211,598 people), through its targeted supplementary feeding programme activities to improve their nutritional status.
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247,130 school students received WFP fortified vegetable oil as a take-home ration to promote increased enrolment in schools. There were also 424,195 participants in the Vocational Skills Training programme.
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Through asset creation activities, 15,287 households (107,000 people) were employed to implement Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities. Under this programme, WFP supports communities to create and rehabilitate their community assets, such as flood protection walls and irrigation canals.
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Timely contributions maximizing the use of funds received from donors to attend to the needs of people assisted. WFP continues to increase purchases of fortified wheat flour from local millers, which reinforces WFP’s “value for money” theme. With the potential for surplus grain from 2016 harvest in Afghanistan. WFP can maximize the value of donor contributions, while supporting local markets, if funds are received now. Savings derived will enable WFP to purchase more food, achieving value for money and therefore allowing WFP to reach more people in need. The timing of the purchases also enables WFP to preposition stocks close to people it assists in high elevation areas to ensure programme continuity throughout the year, even when project sites are cut off by snow. WFP greatly appreciates donor support.
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WFP has significantly increased women’s participation in projects. In 2016, women’s participation in asset creation activities grew from 1.2 percent to 14 percent for in-kind, and 30 percent for CBT-supported projects, while the direct recipients in general food distribution doubled.
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Gender - WFP, together with UN Women, completed its first all-female internship programme in Afghanistan. For a period of six months, 12 young female graduates were placed across all technical departments of WFP Afghanistan.