<p>The United Nations issued an urgent appeal Saturday for aid for some seven million Afghan farmers in the war-ravaged nation facing the threat of severe drought.</p>.<p>Covid-19 has further squeezed agricultural workers in the country, which is now controlled by the Taliban after they toppled the US-backed government this month.</p>.<p>The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization said the farmers worst affected by a drought in the country are among some 14 million people -- or one in three Afghans -- who are "acutely food insecure and need urgent humanitarian assistance".</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/world-has-abandoned-afghanistans-new-generation-1024526.html" target="_blank">'World has abandoned Afghanistan's new generation' </a></strong></p>.<p>"Urgent agricultural support now is key to counter the impact of the drought and a worsening situation in Afghanistan's vast rural areas in the weeks and months ahead," FAO director Qu Dongyu said in a statement.</p>.<p>Afghanistan is facing its second severe drought in three years and the UN said this week it could run out of its staple wheat flour from October.</p>.<p>"If we fail to assist the people most affected by the acute drought, large numbers will be forced to abandon their farms and be displaced in certain areas," Qu added.</p>.<p>"This threatens to further deepen food insecurity and poses yet another threat to the stability of Afghanistan."</p>.<p>The organisation said it was facing a funding shortfall of $18 million (15 million euros) to support its drought response plan in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>It is hoping to help 250,000 families, or around 1.5 million people, for the upcoming winter wheat season.</p>.<p>But the funding shortfall means only 110,000 families can be supported.</p>.<p>The appeal comes as humanitarian organisations fear the Taliban's arrival could hamper access for aid deliveries and personnel.</p>.<p>The UN warned earlier this week that low supplies of food aid were threatening to plunge Afghanistan into a humanitarian disaster.</p>
<p>The United Nations issued an urgent appeal Saturday for aid for some seven million Afghan farmers in the war-ravaged nation facing the threat of severe drought.</p>.<p>Covid-19 has further squeezed agricultural workers in the country, which is now controlled by the Taliban after they toppled the US-backed government this month.</p>.<p>The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization said the farmers worst affected by a drought in the country are among some 14 million people -- or one in three Afghans -- who are "acutely food insecure and need urgent humanitarian assistance".</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/world-has-abandoned-afghanistans-new-generation-1024526.html" target="_blank">'World has abandoned Afghanistan's new generation' </a></strong></p>.<p>"Urgent agricultural support now is key to counter the impact of the drought and a worsening situation in Afghanistan's vast rural areas in the weeks and months ahead," FAO director Qu Dongyu said in a statement.</p>.<p>Afghanistan is facing its second severe drought in three years and the UN said this week it could run out of its staple wheat flour from October.</p>.<p>"If we fail to assist the people most affected by the acute drought, large numbers will be forced to abandon their farms and be displaced in certain areas," Qu added.</p>.<p>"This threatens to further deepen food insecurity and poses yet another threat to the stability of Afghanistan."</p>.<p>The organisation said it was facing a funding shortfall of $18 million (15 million euros) to support its drought response plan in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>It is hoping to help 250,000 families, or around 1.5 million people, for the upcoming winter wheat season.</p>.<p>But the funding shortfall means only 110,000 families can be supported.</p>.<p>The appeal comes as humanitarian organisations fear the Taliban's arrival could hamper access for aid deliveries and personnel.</p>.<p>The UN warned earlier this week that low supplies of food aid were threatening to plunge Afghanistan into a humanitarian disaster.</p>