Observer Research Foundation published an article stating that eleven million people in Afghanistan are experiencing food insecurity, and 97 percent of the country’s population are on the brink of universal poverty by mid-2022. The article included a video of a roundtable discussion that discusses how to enhance food security in Afghanistan. Senior Research Fellow Purnima Menon participated in the discussion. She said, “With the unfolding of the pandemic, what have we seen that would be helpful to Afghanistan. It is important to recognize that a response is needed and put politics aside to take care of human beings. This message is for the humanitarian community and protecting food security regardless of politics. We must be unwavering as a global and regional community to say that social services social safety nets, etc., must be there. The consequences of not doing that are profound. Are we willing to do things and then choose to do nothing? One of the things that is important is food security and nutrition surveillance. It is critical to understand what is happening on the ground. The actions have to make a difference. Data must help what happens on the ground and must be in a partnership that enables action.”
