Read the following passage about The 2025 Afghanistan Hunger Crisis: A Humanitarian Catastrophe and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your ans...

Read the following passage about The 2025 Afghanistan Hunger Crisis: A Humanitarian Catastrophe and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

Afghanistan confronted an unprecedented humanitarian emergency in 2025, with acute food insecurity affecting approximately 15-17 million citizens—nearly one-third of the entire population. This devastating crisis emerged as one of the most severe global hunger emergencies, threatening millions with starvation and malnutrition. The magnitude of suffering reached alarming proportions, prompting urgent international concern and mobilization efforts worldwide. Regional experts described the situation as catastrophic, requiring immediate coordinated intervention.

The catastrophe stemmed from multiple interconnected factors that systematically dismantled Afghanistan's socioeconomic infrastructure. Following the Taliban's resumption of authority, international sanctions froze national assets while foreign assistance programs ceased abruptly. Simultaneously, persistent drought devastated agricultural productivity, destroying crops and livestock essential for rural subsistence. These combined pressures created a perfect storm of economic collapse and resource scarcity. Environmental degradation further exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, accelerating the deterioration of their living conditions.

Women and children bore disproportionate consequences of this humanitarian disaster. Restrictive policies prohibiting female employment severely reduced household incomes, while educational barriers limited future prospects for Afghan families. Healthcare systems reported an alarming escalation in childhood malnutrition cases, with over three million children requiring immediate medical intervention. Many households adopted desperate survival strategies, including skipping meals and selling valuable possessions. Gender-based restrictions compounded socioeconomic hardships, creating additional obstacles for vulnerable populations.

International relief organizations, including UNICEF, WHO, and the World Food Programme, launched comprehensive emergency responses despite significant operational challenges. However, insufficient funding and logistical constraints hampered their effectiveness considerably. By mid-2025, more than half of Afghan families depended entirely on humanitarian aid for survival. Experts emphasized that sustainable recovery necessitates political stabilization, inclusive governance, agricultural rehabilitation, and renewed international cooperation to address this ongoing tragedy effectively. Donor fatigue and competing global crises complicated fundraising efforts substantially.

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Question 23: All of the following contributed to the Afghanistan hunger crisis EXCEPT _________.

A. International sanctions and frozen national assets

B. Foreign military invasion and armed occupation

C. Persistent drought and reduced agricultural productivity

D. Taliban's resumption of authority and restrictive policies