KABUL - The Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said that the international community has donated $40 million to fight winter food shortages resulting from drought in Afghanistan.
The money will be used to provide food to people in northern provinces - including Badakhshan, Ghor, Samangan and Takhar - which were worst affected by the lack of rains.
About 2.6 million people in 14 provinces are facing a winter of hunger, agriculture ministry statistics show.

"More than 200,000 families will receive food coupons; 140,000 have received the coupons so far," Mr Rahimi added.
Families will be able to exchange the coupons for food.

The ministry has already started distributing supplies. More than 2,000 tons of wheat and 1,000 tons of rice have reached some of these 14 provinces.

The Afghan government and United Nations have asked international community for emergency funding of $142m. So far, $40m has reached the country, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Asif Rahimi said.