Millions of Drought-Stricken Afghans Suffer from Poor Harvest, Christian Aid Reports

Some 2.5 million drought-stricken people across much of Afghanistan have lost their crops and are facing acute food shortages, international aid group Christian Aid warned recently in the capital, Kabul.

The leading Christian agency previously reported that the citizens are facing severe hunger after parts of the country witnessed complete harvest failure.

An assessment carried out by the aid group in 66 villages in the provinces of Badghis, Farah, Faryab, Herat and Ghor, mainly in the northwest, found that many people have lost 70 to 80 per cent of their rain-fed crops sparse rains last winter and spring.

According to government figures, around 20,000 people have left their homes in order to survive.

The hunger is further impacting livestock farmers by forcing them to sell their animals or move them to areas where there is still pasture and water - developments which are exacerbating the existing food shortages, Christian Aid said.