Press Release

U.S. responds to food appeal with 50,000 tons of wheat

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Thursday, September 04, 2008

In response to a joint appeal from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, the United States Government is contributing 50,000 tons of wheat for the United Nations World Food Programme emergency operation in Afghanistan. 

The joint appeal issued in July requested 200,000 tons of food over one year to support five million Afghans most impacted by drought and increased food prices.  The appeal also called for resources to increase agricultural production, nutritional support, and other emergency assistance. 

This wheat, in addition to over 55,000 tons of commodities purchased as part of continuing U.S. asistance, is due to arrive in time for winter storage and distribution in difficult to reach, at-risk areas. 

The people of Afghanistan are facing high food prices and poor grain harvests caused by serious drought in many parts of the country.  Retail wheat prices are nearly triple the five-year average price in major Afghan cities, which has caused considerable hardship for low wage earners. 

Including this new commitment, the U.S. Government has contributed 157,000 tons of food and commodities worth $162 million USD in the past year to the World Food Programme in Afghanistan.

U.S. Ambassador William B. Wood said, “This contribution demonstrates again our long-standing commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people.  Since 2004, the U.S. has provided 40% of the food aid distributed through WFP to Afghanistan.”