WFP chief arrives in Afghanistan to review food agency's aid operations

The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) arrived in Kabul today for a three-day visit to Afghanistan to review the agency's relief operations in a country devastated by years of war and drought.

Executive Director Catherine Bertini was scheduled get a first-hand look at an orphanage and a popular project involving bakeries run by Afghan women. During her stay, Ms. Bertini is also expected to visit Herat and Jalalabad.

Meanwhile, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that thousands of Afghans have crossed into Pakistan in recent days. The new Afghan refugees, most of whom are ethnic Pashtuns, began filtering across the border late last week from cities in northern Afghanistan, including Kunduz, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat.

While some blamed their flight on the lack of food aid, the majority of the new refugees cited security concerns as the main reason for leaving Afghanistan, the agency said.