Recently, India has committed to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by donating 50,000 MT of wheat. This will be facilitated through an agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). In previous years, India has shown support by sending more than 20 tonnes of medicines and transporting 75,000 tonnes of wheat to address the Covid-19 crisis in Afghanistan.
The Wheat Agreement and its Logistics
The agreement involves Pakistan facilitating the transportation of the wheat through its territory to the Afghan border starting February 2022, despite current trade restrictions. Iran has also pledged to help with the transport via the Chabahar port leading to the Afghan border through Zahedan. However, the logistics remain a challenge due to existing tensions and trade shutdown with Pakistan since 2019 as a result of governmental changes in Jammu and Kashmir.
The United Nations World Food Programme: Its Aims and Achievements
The WFP aims to save lives by delivering food assistance in emergencies, improving nutrition, and building resilience in communities. Founded in 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), it is also part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). The WFP assists 88 countries and has helped 97 million people in 2019, the largest number since 2012. For its efforts to combat hunger and promote peace, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2020.
The Role of WFP in India
The WFP has been working in India for decades, transitioning from food distribution to technical assistance since India achieved self-sufficiency in cereal production. The areas of their work include:
1. Transforming the targeted public distribution system: This involves improving the efficiency, accountability and transparency of India’s subsidized food distribution program benefiting approximately 800 million poor people nationwide.
2. Fortification of government distributed food: WFP enhances the nutritional value of the Government’s Midday Meal school feeding programme by fortifying meals with essential micronutrients. Initial pilot projects showed promising results in reducing anaemia and malnutrition.
3. Mapping and monitoring of food insecurity: WFP uses Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping softwares to identify India’s most food insecure regions to target policy implementation and relief work appropriately.
WFP’s Strategy Plan for India 2019-2023
According to the WFP’s country strategy plan, the focus for India over the upcoming years is to ensure vulnerable populations meet their minimum food and nutritional requirements throughout the year. Particularly, it aims at improving nutrition among high-risk groups like women, children, and adolescent girls by 2025.
This alliance between India, Afghanistan, and the WFP aims to provide immediate assistance to conflict-stricken Afghanistan while also working towards long-term development goals.
Last Modified: February 15, 2024