The aid coordination office, OCHA, said casualty figures “cannot yet be independently verified” due to limited access.
Schools and markets in several border districts remain closed amid continued instability, while mortar shelling has forced families to flee villages in northwest Pakistan.
Aid operations in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been temporarily suspended, although assistance continues in the south of the province.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, reiterated its call on Tuesday for an end to cross-border clashes.
UNAMA also calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to ensure the protection of civilians.
Bombings and airstrikes
In Afghanistan, cross-border bombings and airstrikes have reportedly caused civilian casualties and damaged homes. In Nangarhar province, five civilians, including children, were injured near the Torkham crossing, while two others were injured in Nazyan district.
“Civilians must be protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure,” stressed UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that further escalation could worsen one of the world’s largest returnee crises, with more than five million Afghans returning over the past two years, putting strain on already overburdened communities.
UN deplores killing of Iraqi women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed
The UN has condemned the assassination in Baghdad earlier this week of internationally renowned women’s rights activist Yanar Mohammed, calling it a “heinous murder.”
“This is tragic news for women human rights defenders in Iraq, the region and beyond,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said during a press briefing Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, tweeted that it had worked closely with her and her organization, with human rights chief Volker Türk calling for a swift and transparent investigation by Iraqi authorities, as well as full accountability.
Dedicated and tireless activist
According to media reports, Ms Mohammed was shot dead by unidentified gunmen who opened fire from a motorbike outside her home in the capital. The Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq – a group she founded – said she died of her injuries in hospital.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has reportedly opened an investigation into this alleged assassination.
“She was tirelessly and devotedly committed to ensuring the protection of many women victims of domestic and social violence,” said Mr. Dujarric, who sent his condolences to her family and her “courageous colleagues”.
Chile becomes the first country in South America to eliminate leprosy
Chile becomes only the second country in the world to have officially eliminated leprosy, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. This disease is curable and is largely found in the most vulnerable communities in less developed countries.
In Chile, a major epidemic occurred in the late 19th century on Easter Island. The spread in mainland Chile was contained, and by the late 1990s the last secondary cases were managed.
Although 47 cases were reported nationwide between 2012 and 2023, none were locally acquired and the WHO decided to assess whether elimination had been achieved by 2025.
“Historic achievement in public health”
“The elimination of leprosy in Chile sends a clear message to the world: with sustained commitment, inclusive health services, integrated public health strategies, early detection and universal access to care, we can relegate ancient diseases to oblivion,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Chile’s success leads the way for other countries, illustrating the impact of political will, cross-sector collaboration and adaptive planning in low-incidence settings.
“This historic public health achievement is a powerful testament to what leadership, science and solidarity can achieve,” the WHO chief said.
As a neglected tropical disease, leprosy persists in more than 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases per year worldwide.
