ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS: COMBATING STARVATION AND FOOD INSECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN THROUGH HUMANITARIAN ACTION

AUTHORS – MUSKA HAMZA*, ZABITA ALAMYAR**, BIBI SAKINA ZEYARMAL** & SHOGHLLAH ZEYARMAL**

  * PH.D. SCHOLAR (MANAGEMENT) BIMS & FORMER CENTRAL BANK OF AFGHANISTAN FINANCE OFFICER

  ** STUDENTS OF HEALTH SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PEOPLE (USA)

BEST CITATION – MUSKA HAMZA, ZABITA ALAMYAR, BIBI SAKINA ZEYARMAL & SHOGHLLAH ZEYARMAL, ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS: COMBATING STARVATION AND FOOD INSECURITY IN AFGHANISTAN THROUGH HUMANITARIAN ACTION, JOURNAL ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, 1 (1) OF 2023, Pg. 192-208, APIS – 3920 – 0020 | ISSN – 2583 – 8067.

Abstract

This paper examines the pivotal role played by the United Nations (UN) in addressing the dire issue of starvation and food insecurity in Afghanistan through humanitarian action. In the wake of Afghanistan’s enduring vulnerabilities, the UN has emerged as a beacon of hope, delivering vital assistance to the country’s most vulnerable populations. Humanitarian interventions encompass diverse strategies such as food aid, nutrition support, and cash transfers, forming a swift and compassionate lifeline during times of crisis. Emergency response efforts are characterized by rapid assistance, including food provisions, shelter, medical supplies, and clean water and sanitation. Beyond immediate relief, the UN engages in a multifaceted approach to nurture health and resilience within Afghanistan. Nutritional support is bolstered by supplementary feeding programs, ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF), maternal and infant nutrition initiatives, and community-based approaches. Monitoring and assessment mechanisms enable a dynamic response to evolving needs. Sustainable food security is a key objective, and the UN promotes self-sufficiency and resilience through food security programs, support for small-scale farmers, infrastructure development, sustainable agricultural practices, capacity building, market access, and climate resilience measures. Advocacy and coordination efforts provide a platform for multilateral cooperation, resource mobilization, policy change, and capacity building, catalyzing change in Afghanistan’s food crisis.  Empowering Afghan communities is central to achieving sustainable food security, with capacity building, support for local institutions, community-led initiatives, knowledge transfer, and resilience-building initiatives at the forefront. Navigating complex terrain is imperative to reach the most vulnerable, involving access negotiations, managing conflict and insecurity, ensuring aid worker safety, and balancing humanitarian imperatives in a complex and contextual environment.

Keywords: United Nations (UN), Food insecurity, Humanitarian action, Afghanistan, Sustainable food security and Vulnerable populations