'Children are going to die', U.N. agency warns as Afghanistan verges on collapse

Samira, 9, and other children share tea and bread for breakfast at the orphanage before going to school in Kabul, Afghanistan, October 12, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/Files

DUBAI (Reuters) - Millions of Afghans, including children, could die of starvation unless urgent action is taken to pull Afghanistan back from the brink of collapse, a senior United Nations official warned, calling for frozen funds to be freed for humanitarian efforts.

World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley told Reuters that 22.8 million people - more than half of Afghanistan's 39 million population - were facing acute food insecurity and "marching to starvation" compared to 14 million just two months ago.