KABUL - The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a nine-month operation to help Afghanistan deal with the growing number of returnees from Pakistan and internally displaced people (IDPs) by providing emergency food and funds, the UN says.
On a daily basis, thousands of refugees are crossing the border at the main entry point of Torkham, some with identity documents and others without.  More than a million people are expected to be on the move across the country by the end of the year.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, WFP plans establishing a digital registration platform at the border to capture the returnees’ biometric data using SCOPE -- the UN agency’s beneficiary management application.
Mick Lorentzen, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan, said in a statement: “We need sufficient and timely funds in the coming weeks and months to ensure that we can help returnees as rapidly and efficiently as possible.”
WFP and other United Nations agencies are working closely with the Afghan government to increase the capacity of humanitarian response and meet immediate shelter, sanitation and food needs, which also required an urgent appeal for $152 million.
Having stepped up assistance in eastern Afghanistan, WFP is providing food and cash support for 163,000 undocumented returnees, 200,000 registered returnees, 150,000 IDPs and 35,000 refugees in Khost and Paktika provinces.
WFP acknowledged receiving generous and timely contributions from Australia, Belgium, Italy and Norway. Operational costs are estimated at $66.8 million, only 12 per cent of which has thus far been met. (Pajhwok)