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Afghanistan

Solidarités: Food crisis in Afghanistan

Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world and scarred by decades of war, is again facing renewed violence after a relatively calm period, and is currently suffering from an extremely serious food crisis. This food crisis in Afghanistan, within the international food crisis, poses the threat of rapidly turning into a major humanitarian emergency.

SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation which has been present in Afghanistan for 28 years, has made an alarming report: in Kabul, the price of one kilo of wheat, which is an essential staple food for the city's 4 million inhabitants, abruptly increased from 21 to 42 afghanis per kilo in February and March of this year (exchange rate in May 2008: 77 afghanis = 1 €uro). Other staple food prices also rose dramatically: oil (+ 16%) and rice (+ 30%). As a result, the purchasing power of unskilled day labourers (160-190 afghanis per day, or between 2 and 2.5 €uros!) has fallen by 40%!

Although this situation may differ from one region to another, Afghanistan is nevertheless severely affected by falling agricultural production, rising prices and scarce imports from neighbouring countries, which are also suffering from the food crisis. As an example, the monthly salary of many civil servants is around 2500 to 3000 afghanis, or between 32 and 40 €uros!

On June 12th, an International Conference on Afghanistan organised by France, Afghanistan and the United Nations will take place, in the presence of 80 delegations. It is urgent that the severity of the food crisis in Afghanistan be acknowledged, and that the actions required to respond to this situation be set in motion right away.

To this end and in preparation for this Conference, SOLIDARITES and the majority of French NGOs have organised a symposium on May 22nd in Paris, to prepare an analysis of the situation as well as recommendations based upon our 28 years of experience in this country.

In particular, SOLIDARITES makes the following recommendations:

- A higher level of direct aid for the poorest among the Afghan population, with priority aid for farmers who feed the population.

- Making the humanitarian needs of the population a priority, and placing them at the heart of reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, involving local communities in this process, fighting corruption and seeking a political solution which reconciles the majority of Afghans and enables lasting peace.

- Finally, we hope that the French government will significantly increase its humanitarian aid for reconstruction and development.

SOLIDARITES is available to answer journalists' questions and to offer eyewitness accounts of the food emergency in Afghanistan. Moreover, we have just published a 24 page report which covers the situation in Afghanistan, our agricultural, drinking water and sanitation programmes, our humanitarian action over the last 28 years and our recommendations for the future. This report is available on our website: www.solidarites.org.

Press contact: Alain Boinet - O6.82.59.29.07 and O1 80 21 05 96
To find our more about SOLIDARITES: www.solidarites.org
SOLIDARITES - 50 rue Klock 92110 Clichy la-Garenne - Tel (reception): 01 80 21 05 05 / Fax: 01 80 21 05 99
Email: direction@solidarites.org - siren 389 515 180