Pakistan announced in October that it would begin deporting “undocumented” foreign nationals from November 1, affecting thousands of Afghans who have found refuge in the country.
The WFP said most families crossing the border arrive hungry, desperate and in need of immediate support.
The UN agency continues to provide them with fortified cookies and cash to buy food or other basic needs, and has helped 250,000 people so far this month.
Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP's country director in Afghanistan, said its program there is already underfunded.
He warned that without additional resources “we will not be able to continue supporting these families who arrive at the border with nothing more than the basics and some bread for their trip.”
WFP is urgently seeking $27.5 million to support one million returnees and help them get through the winter.
Human rights expert: Emergency response needed to save Rohingya refugees at sea
An independent UN expert has called for action to save the lives of Rohingya refugees making dangerous sea journeys to Indonesia as conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh continue to deteriorate.
“The crisis will only worsen if its root cause: Myanmar's illegal military junta is not addressed,” Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the country, said in a statement issued Thursday.
Bangladesh hosts approximately one million Rohingya refugees who have fled waves of violence in Myanmar.
Search and rescue
More than 1,000 refugees arrived by boat in Aceh province, in the far north of Indonesia, over the past week.
Mr Andrews praised the Government of Indonesia for offering safety, shelter and support to new arrivals and urged other countries in the region to do the same.
“This is an emergency and an emergency response is required, including a coordinated search and rescue operation to save the lives of those who may be stranded on overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels,” he said.
Special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. They serve in an individual capacity, are not UN staff and do not receive salaries.
China: WHO requests data on the spread of respiratory diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially requested detailed information from China on the increase in respiratory diseases in children.
Chinese authorities reported the increase 10 days ago, the WHO said, and attributed it to “the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens,” including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus itself, influenza and a bacteria. which causes pneumonia.
Earlier this week there were other reports of “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China.”
Requested lab results
The WHO said it had asked China for laboratory results of the pneumonia clusters, as well as information on other respiratory diseases that are spreading and their impact on the health system.
The UN agency stressed that it was also in contact with doctors and scientists through its existing technical associations and networks in China.
Meanwhile, the WHO advised people in China to follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, such as recommended vaccination, testing and staying home when sick, masks, ventilation and hand washing.
The new rail transport treaty also has “green” benefits
A new UN convention that promises to boost freight transport by rail will also bring significant environmental benefits.
That's the message from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which said moving freight by rail between Europe and Asia will be easier, faster and cheaper after last week's adoption of the international treaty to speed cross-border rail trade.
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean said the treaty also means good news for climate action, given that rail transport emits 5.7 times less greenhouse gases than road transport per ton-kilometre, which It is a unit of measurement for the transportation of goods.
Rail transport between China and Europe has already seen a significant increase in recent years, as it is much faster than sea transport and less expensive than air transport.
The new treaty will open for signature in February.
