Afghanistan warns of dire food shortages

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

BERLIN (AFP) - Afghanistan could face serious food shortages in the coming months that could lead to a famine, Economy Minister Mohammad Amin Farhang told a German newspaper in an interview published Friday.

Farhang called on the international community for help, noting that 400,000 tonnes of wheat were still needed to feed the population through the winter and sufficient oil, sugar and flour were also lacking.

"The situation is serious," he told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung, adding that President Hamid Karsai had formed a special commission to head off a potential humanitarian disaster.

Farhang said it would cost the Afghan government at least 80 million dollars if it has to buy grain on the free market.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080104/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanunrestunnatofood_080104110749

[CRK7376]

1. I faced a village elder in Nov or Dec 2002

that had 25 families, or about 200 people that had been forced out of their village by the Taliban. They had walked 3-4 days to seek relief at our firebase. They were starving and seeking shelter. I had little that I could give them, but we did give them a 50bag of rice that was "donated" from some Taliban we had dealt with a week earlier. The bag of rice had been grown in Louisana and was bagged and distributed by the UN under one of their food programs. So we passed on the rice and I gave them a huge roll of black platic 6-7ft by 100ft roll of plastic for quick immediate shelter construction. That was the best we could do. It was cold and windy and a horrible time to be outside of shelter. The next day we were able to link up the displaced villagers with the local Red Crescent/Red Cross representatives that just happened to be travelling through our village. they had already learned of this groups displacement and were off to investigate/help....

I've seen hungary people that have been driven out of their homes. It's ugly and I wish Shrub would put more effort into supporting humanitarian missions and reconstruction than the pursuit of militants in Iraq. He's created a monster that my Army and brother services are having to deal with. We are wearing out, and we're the wealthiest, best nation in the world. Shrub has lead us to the brink of ruin....Hurry up Jan 09.

[aquart]

2. Oh, look! We're starving ANOTHER country we invaded.

[Hissyspit]

3. Afghanistan Launches International Appeal for Food Aid

Source: BBC News

Afghanistan appeals for food aid
By Pam O'Toole
BBC News

Afghanistan is appealing to the international community to provide extra supplies of wheat to alleviate a shortage, an Afghan minister has said.

Commerce Minister Mohammad Amin Farhang said the shortage could lead to serious problems during the winter. His call came amid rising discontent inside Afghanistan at the spiralling cost of wheat and other basic food. Afghanistan does not grow enough wheat to feed all its people and is partially dependent on imports.

Mr Farhang made his comment in an interview with German's Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper. "The situation is serious," he said.

Kabul has come under increasing pressure to take action, amid rising grain prices on the international market.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7172609.stm

[ingac70]

4. Perhaps if they grew more food and less opium...

they wouldn't be in this situation.

[pipoman]

5. Exactly my thought! N/T

[saigon68]

6. Plenty of Heroin on the streets Courtesy of the CIA