WHO: 13 million people are facing food shortage in Afghanistan

Due to limited humanitarian aid, these numbers are likely to rise further in the coming weeks and months.

Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , said that 13 million people in Afghanistan are suffering from severe food shortages.

"In Afghanistan, 13 million people, 30 percent of the population, are facing a severe food crisis, " said Gebre y Esus. He added that about 1 million children in the country suffer from severe and 2.3 million children from moderately acute malnutrition.

The director general said that people living in Afghanistan are at a higher risk of dying from infectious diseases due to weakened immunity and harsh winter conditions.

"These numbers are likely to increase in the coming weeks and months due to limited humanitarian aid, " Gebre y esus said.

WHO needs $185 million to continue supporting hospitals to prevent Afghan children and women from dying from malnutrition and food insecurity, he said.