World Food Program has once again expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and starvation in Afghanistan and said that they need up to $2.6 billion to get fed Afghan people.

Speaking with National Republic Radio (NPR) spokesperson of the program for Afghanistan Shelley Thakral said that Afghan people have survived acute hanger worse than the ongoing one but added that the poverty and starvation have arrived in cities this time which is concerning.

Shelley Thakral said that the worst drought in decades, a spike in food prices, and the Taliban’s takeover that triggered the economic crisis are the reasons why up to 23 million people of Afghanistan are starving.

Hundreds of thousands of people especially teachers and construction workers who have been laid off after political transformation are experiencing food shortage and insecurity of food for the first time. Said Thakral.

There is a new urban class of hungry people, she says.

The spokesperson said that people have run out of vegetables, meat, and dairy at a time when malnutrition is on the rise that hardly affects children under 5 and pregnant women.

She further added that families are resorting to selling their home items and even children in serious cases in order to feed family members and get firewood to warm rooms.