FAIZABAD - The World Food Program (WFP) has suspended its malnutrition program in northeastern Badakhshan province, where over 40 percent children under five years of age are said to be malnourished.
Dr. Noor Khawari, the provincial Public Health Director, told Pajhwok Afghan News the WFP had no coordination with his department and took unilateral decisions.
“We hope the WFP would reconsider its decision regarding their one-sided ban on its program in Badakhshan and resume the malnutrition program because malnutrition issues are still threatening children in most of Badakhshan districts.”
Mohammad Omar Aryan, WFP official, confirmed the WFP had stopped its malnutrition program in Badakhshan.
However, he said the WFP country director was currently in Italy and would return in the coming week. “But decision on resuming the WFP program in Badakhshan would be taken in a joint meeting with UNAMA and WHO.”
Dr. Akbar Beash, in charge of Faizabad Provincial Hospital, said children faced poverty, lack of healthcare, food and access to clean drinking water.
He said during summer children suffered from diarrhea which often led to malnutrition among children.
Mohammad ZahirFazel, head of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), said malnutrition still threatened mothers and children in Badakhshan.
A survey conducted in 2013 showed malnutrition among mothers at 40 percent.
Eng. Mohammad AlemAlami, the agriculture department director, said 62 percent of people in Badakhshan lived under the poverty line ---a matter of huge concern. “Most of the land in the province is rain fed”, he added. (Pajhwok)