Treatment and prevention of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children aged 6-59 months and PLW in Five prioritized provinces for winterization. Food insecurity in Afghanistan remains alarmingly high, with 19 million Afghans – almost half of the population – continue to  be in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity3 (IPC 3+). Of these, 6 million people are at emergency levels of food insecurity (IPC 4), one of the highest numbers globally. There is a strong correlation between areas affected by potential drought and existing food insecurity and malnutrition. It is anticipated that the dire food insecurity situation will be exacerbated by drought and water scarcity. The impact of prolonged dry spells on the food security status in rural areas could trigger an early lean season onset. Increasing food insecurity and limited safe water availability are expected to complicate treatment for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and place even more children, pregnant and lactating women (PLW) at risk of worsening health conditions(Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Key risks include widespread severe hunger, high morbidity limited access due to harsh winter in mountainous areas. The winter, which coincides with the lean season, is likely a highest risk period for famine-like conditions. The nutritional status of children under five and pregnant and lactating women (PLW) continues to be concerning in most parts of Afghanistan. An estimated 4,7 million people will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2022, including around 1,1 million children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), over 2.8 million children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and over 800,000 pregnant and lactating women (PLW) with acute malnutrition (an increase of 21 percent from 2021).

In response to these acute and growing needs, WFP will use this support from AHF to procure and pre-position specialized nutritious foods-SNFs  (RUSF and SuperCereal) to ensure  MAM treatment services through targeted supplementary feeding programme (TSFP) to 20,000 children age 6-59 months  and 6500 acutely malnourished PLW to rehabilitate their nutritional status, and provide blanket supplementary feeding services to 17,272 children 6-59months and 7600 PLW to prevent them from further deterioration to severe malnutrition during winter period. It will ensure, that needs are met as the winter season negatively affects income prospects, food  prices and places additional spending burden and demand on already vulnerable families.

The assistance will be prioritized for winterization in provinces/districts of Badakhshan (Kofab, Khwahan, Darwaz-e-Balla, Shahr-e-Buzorg, Zebak, Shighnan, Raghestan, Khash, Wakhan, Shuhada, Darayem, Eshkashem), Badghis (Ghormach), Faryab (Qurghan, Maymana, Bilcheragh, Garzewan, Qaysar), Ghor (Taywarah), Sar-e-Pul (Sancharak). It will be implemented through Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams (MHNTs), in addition to the on-going MAM treatment services provided through fixed health facilities, across the country to ensure services are provided in a timely manner to children and women in inaccessible locations during winter period. Services will be delivered through current supported cooperating partners (AKHS, MMRCHA, CHA, SDO, SAF)

To provide immediate relief and prevent pipeline shortfalls for food commodities with long procurement lead times, WFP will use existing commodities from other funding sources and AHF’s contribution will serve for pipeline replenishment. Through this AHF contribution, WFP will procure 180 MT LNS-LQ, 77.7 MT LNS-MQ and 345.3 MT of Super Cereal. 
 
The nutrition assistance will be provided for a period of 6 months and is aligned with the Nutrition Clusters recommended guidelines on humanitarian response packages and national IMAM guideline.