Food production and food security have both fallen victim to decades of warfare in Afghanistan. Production of cereals fell slightly while returning refugees helped swell the population by 25 percent between 1980 and 1996. As a result, average daily food intake fell from 2 186 calories to 1 710 calories, significantly below minimum requirements. Two-thirds of the country's provinces are now food-deficit areas; but the war-torn economy cannot generate imports to fill the gap. Afghanistan's problems are unusual in a region where levels of undernourishment are generally low. But they are typical of many war-torn countries facing complex humanitarian emergencies. More than 40 percent of the country's arable land is riddled with landmines and cannot be farmed. Thousands of people who used to make their living from farming have migrated to towns and cities, joining the ranks of a new, impoverished urban underclass. Only 15 percent of the population have access to safe water and some 70 percent are illiterate. Intermittent fighting and restrictions on movement continue to disrupt efforts to rebuild the country. One in every 50 Afghans has been a landmine casualty. Every day, mine blasts kill or maim another 10 people, a third of them women and children. Many who have been disabled by war injuries or mines are no longer able to work. Their dependent status puts additional pressures on other family members who must feed and care for them. Large volumes of food aid remain far from sufficient to satisfy the minimum needs of such a large number of undernourished. Until peace is restored, there can be little hope of any lasting solutions.
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