Afghanistan has been ranked as the second-top country globally with over one million of its citizens grappling with emergency levels of hunger, according to a report by the World Food Programme in Afghanistan.

The WFP Afghanistan made this grim announcement through a statement on its official social media account, emphasizing that a staggering 6.08 million people in Afghanistan are now confronting what they term as the "4th phase" of hunger.

Wahidullah Amani, a spokesperson for WFP Afghanistan, disclosed that the organization has been compelled to make drastic cuts to its assistance programs due to a crippling budget shortfall. "The WFP has faced a shortage of budget in the ongoing month, and we were forced to cut another 2 million from our assistance list. This means that we can only aid 3 million people," Amani stated.

In response to this dire situation, the Islamic Emirate, the ruling authority in Afghanistan, attributed the budget shortfall of aid organizations to a worldwide increase in poverty. Spokesperson Mujahid remarked, "The world is being threatened by poverty. The West and other countries who were supporting these organizations are also facing problems of poverty. It is not only Afghanistan. Second, there are serious steps being taken to tackle the crisis of poverty in Afghanistan."

The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan underscores the urgent need for international attention and assistance to address the mounting hunger and suffering faced by millions of Afghan citizens. (ILKHA)