Kabul [Afghanistan], August 6 (ANI): Indonesia has donated USD 3.5 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support a school feeding initiative that will provide fortified biscuits to 200,000 Afghan schoolchildren. The goal of the program is to improve children’s nutrition, promote learning, and increase school attendance, Khaama Press reported.
According to WFP, the Indonesian contribution will fund the purchase of over 1,200 metric tons of protein- and vitamin-enriched biscuits, which will be distributed as nutritious snacks to primary school students—both boys and girls—across Afghanistan. The three-month initiative is designed to deliver a crucial nutritional boost, especially for children in areas struggling with food insecurity and malnutrition.
“This contribution ensures that schoolchildren across Afghanistan receive the nutrition they need for a brighter future,” said Rina Setiawati, Director of International Development Cooperation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Afghanistan emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that for many children, “this snack is often their only nutritious meal of the day, providing essential energy for learning and growth.”
The school feeding programme specifically targets regions suffering from high rates of chronic food insecurity, malnutrition, and low school enrollment. In such areas, providing food not only improves health but also acts as an incentive for families to send their children—especially girls—to school.
Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world’s worst hunger crises. WFP estimates that in 2025, approximately 3.5 million children under the age of five and 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women will suffer from malnutrition.
While Indonesia’s donation provides much-needed relief and will positively impact thousands of children, WFP warned that ongoing funding shortages threaten the sustainability and expansion of these critical programs. Continued international support remains vital to breaking the cycle of hunger and helping Afghan children access both food and education.
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