Emergency winter food assistance (in-kind and cash-based transfers) to acutely food insecure people living in IPC Phase 3+ in Kunduz, Samangan, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Ghor, and Hirat Provinces ltpgtAfghanistan remains one of the world's worst humanitarian crises facing severe, multi-faceted, and interlocking humanitarian, economic, climatic and political crises, which was further compounded by COVID-19, the Taliban taking control of the country in August 2021 and the crisis in Ukraine. Over two-thirds of its population requires humanitarian assistance in 2023.lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtAccording to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification its projected that between May – October 2023), around 15.3 million Afghans (35 per cent) are projected to experience high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in Crisis or Emergency (IPC Phase 3 or 4). This includes nearly 2.8 million people (around 6 per cent) experiencing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity and a step away from famine like conditions.lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtTo complement WFP’s overall crisis response, WFP will use this funding to provide 3 months of unconditional, nutrition-sensitive emergency food assistance to 1,364,423 beneficiaries (194,918 households). In-kind assistance will be provided to 480,953  beneficiaries (68,707 households) that are acutely food-insecure people in IPC3+. In addition, cash-based assistance will be provided to 883,470 beneficiaries (126,210 households) that are acutely food-insecure people in IPC3+. An estimated 272,883 persons with disabilities will benefit from this assistance. Targeted locations will be Kunduz, Samangan, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Ghor, and Hirat provinces during winter lean season. The number of households and beneficiaries are calculated based on WFP's operational plan by district in the targeted months. 

lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtHouseholds targeted in IPC Phase 3+ areas for in-kind assistance will receive a monthly nutritionally balanced 61 kg food basket comprised of 50 kg of fortified wheat flour, 4.55 kg of vegetable oil, 6.25 kg of pulses (yellow split peas) and 0.5 kg of iodized salt which will meet 50 percent of their daily food needs. Households in IPC Phase 3+ areas receiving cash-based assistance will each receive monthly distributions of AFN 3,200 (37.5USD) through cash-based transfers (direct cash, value vouchers or commodity vouchers) depending on market functionality. lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtThe food assistance will be provided for a period of 3 months and will support beneficiaries during the winter period, ensuring needs are met as the winter season negatively affects income prospects, food prices and places additional spending burden and demand on already vulnerable families. This contribution is in alignment with the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster’s (FSAC) response packages and the Cash and Voucher Working Group (CVWG).lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtWFP recognizes that women are best served by women and is continuing to advocate towards the de-facto authorities for full access of women, and for WFP and Cooperating Partners (CP) staff to participate in all levels of the project lifecycle. WFP has been operating in Afghanistan since 1963. Due to long-standing challenges of safely recruiting and deploying women to the field in Afghanistan, which pre-date current Taliban rule, WFP’s programming already included measures to mitigate risks associated with fewer or no women staff on the ground, and which are being enhanced in light of recent restrictions.lt/pgt