Clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have continued for a seventh straight day, with humanitarian access to affected areas still restricted, the UN said on Tuesday.
Aid coordination office, OCHA , reported that casualty figures "cannot yet be independently verified" due to limited access.
Schools and markets in several border districts remain closed amid ongoing instability, while mortar fire 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.
Shelling and airstrikes
In Afghanistan, cross-border shelling and airstrikes have reportedly caused civilian casualties and damage to homes. In Nangarhar Province, five civilians, including children, were injured near the Torkham crossing, while two others were wounded in Nazyan district.
"Civilians must be protected at all times, as well as civilian infrastructure," UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed.
The International Organization for Migration ( IOM ) 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, placing severe strain on already overstretched communities.
UN deplores murder of Iraqi women's rights activist Yanar Mohammed
The UN has condemned the killing in Baghdad earlier this week of internationally renowned women's rights activist, Yanar Mohammed, as a "heinous murder".
"This is tragic news for women human rights defenders in Iraq, in the region and beyond," said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, during Wednesday's briefing at UN Headquarters in New York.
The UN human rights office, OHCHR , tweeted that they had worked closely with her and her organization, with rights chief Volker Türk calling for a prompt and transparent investigation by Iraqi authorities, together with full accountability.
Dedicated and tireless campaigner
According to news reports, Ms. Mohammed was shot by unidentified gunmen who opened fire from a motorcycle outside her home in the capital. The Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq - a group she founded - said she succumbed to her wounds in hospital.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has reportedly opened an investigation into the apparent assassination.
"She was engaged tirelessly and with dedication to provide protection to many women victims of domestic and social violence," said Mr. Dujarric, who sent condolences to her family and "brave colleagues".
Chile becomes first country in South America to eliminate leprosy
Chile becomes only the second country in world to officially eliminate leprosy disease, the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) said on Wednesday .
Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a chronic infectious disease which primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract mucosa, and eyes. It's curable and largely found in the most vulnerable communities in less developed countries.
In Chile, a major outbreak took place at the end of the 19th century on Easter Island. The spread to mainland Chile was contained, and by the late 1990s the last secondary cases were managed.
Though 47 cases were reported nationwide between 2012-2023, none were locally acquired and the WHO moved to assess if elimination had been achieved in 2025.
'Landmark public health achievement'
"Chile's elimination of leprosy 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 consign ancient diseases to history," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Chile's accomplishment paves the way for other nations, illustrating the impact of political will, cross-sector collaboration, and adaptive planning in low-incidence settings.
"This landmark public health achievement is a powerful testament to what leadership, science, and solidarity can accomplish," the WHO chief said.
As a neglected tropical disease, leprosy persists in over 120 countries, with more than 200 000 new cases annually worldwide.
