Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20240910

A country where millions of children are malnourished, and where in one hospital, 700 children have died injust the last six months. It is a humanitarian crisis that deepens every day, with much of the Country Living in Extreme Poverty, after years of war causing economic collapse. The un says more than 3 Million children under five are malnourished, with the delivery of aid becoming much harder, since the taliban took over in 2021. The bbc� s yogita limaye, Camera Journalist Sanjay Ganguly And Producer Imogen Anderson have been in the country for the last two weeks chronicling the disaster, and a warning her report does Show Images of children in distress. This is what an average morning looks like at jalalabads main hospital. Hundreds throng every corner, every passage, as Extreme Poverty pushes more children into disease each day. Zara, 13 months old, one of 3 Million malnourished children in the country. A disease thats ravaging afghanistans youngest. For every child here whos made it to a tiny bit of space in critical care, four others have not. At seven months, Bibi Hajra looks like a newborn. Her mother, amina, has already lost six children. Translation its like doomsday for me. My children are dying because we have nothing to feed them, she told us. Sharing the same bed is three year old sana. Her mother died while giving birth to her Baby Sister a few months ago. This is ilham. Hes three, suffering from malnutrition and pneumonia. His sister died of the same diseases at the age of two. In this one room, there were dozens of stories of death. Nasiba has lost four children. And now she watches as her Baby Girl Asma struggles for life. Her tiny body racked with multiple infections. By the time she was brought here, asma was already in a serious condition. Translation its like the | flesh is melting off my body. I Cant Bear to watch my Child Suffering like this. Asma went into septic shock. An hour later, she died. 700 children have died here in six months, at least three a day. We found out about the death of Baby Asma when we came back to this ward to just check in on her and what We Can see in front of us already in the half a bed that she left empty theres another desperately sick child. This is baby aaliyah, three months old, severely malnourished and suffering from several other complications as well. And this is what its like before anyone in this room, before the doctors, before the nurses have had time to register or recover from the loss of a child, another baby has to be brought in because there are just so many of them in need. You hear the statistics, But this is what it looks like on the front line. A baby dies. A couple of hours later, another sick baby brought in. Over the past three years, weve been to dozens of Health Facilities documenting the crisis. Now, children are dying at a frightening pace from a lack of nutrition and curable diseases. Umrah has severe pneumonia. A nurse tries to stabilise her. The treatment available at this hospital is only possible because Aid Agencies have stepped in to fund healthcare since the taliban took over. Im extremely scared about what might happen to my child. I wish i was suffering in her place, umrahs mother, nasreen, says. Two days later, umrah also died. These deaths are being counted. But in the communities outside the hospital, children are dying silently. And theres also an underreported But alarming surge in stunting. Its affected a staggering 45 of afghan children under the age of five. Mohammed is two. Far shorter than he should be and he cannot stand yet. Translation the doctor has told me that if he gets treatment for the next 3 to 6 months he will be fine, But We Cant even afford food. How do we pay for the treatment . Im scared he will become disabled and he will never be able to walk. Stunting can lead to irreversible physical and mental damage. In lane after lane, we see children at risk. Its in these communities where aid has been most dramatically cut. But where it is given, we find evidence of how it helps. Eight month old mujib used to be severely malnourished. His father says the food sachets they receive have significantly improved his condition. And from back at the hospital, theres good news. Bibi hajra was in a fragile state when we saw her. But with the right intervention, shes now well enough to be discharged. Yogita limaye, Bbc News, jalalabad. Zoe, two major unions are also calling on the government to reverse their plans. No 10 faces a potential rebellion in parliament this week, when mps vote on the decision to axe the payment for all But the poorest Pensioners. Lets go to our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman, who is at westminster. Rachel reeves, the chancellor, is Meeting Backbench Mps later today, there is no suggestion that the government would lose this vote But it is coming in for a lot of criticism, including from some unions . Absolutely right. The government is going to win this vote. The winterfuel government is going to win this vote. The Winter Fuel payments is going to be withdrawn for millions of Pensioners. The only question is, at what cost for this new prime Ministers Authority among his own mps . Because the unease among labour mps, many of them elected for the first time just a couple of months ago, is really striking. Rachel reeves, as you say, is going to address labour mps, a meeting of the parliamentary Labour Party this evening, and her message, i am told, will be very straightforward. She will say, this is a tough decision, it is a tough decision that the government has to make in order to get the public finances back on track. It is very similar to the argument that Sir Keir Starmer made to our Colleague Laura Kuenssberg yesterday. This is really tough and i do et this is really tough and i do get that this is really tough and i do get that it is tough. It is not easy get that it is tough. It is not easy and get that it is tough. It is not easy and no Prime Minister wants easy and no Prime Minister wants to easy and no Prime Minister wants to take a decision like this, wants to take a decision like this, But wants to take a decision like this, But the Winter Fuel paymentss are out to be targeted. They were untargeted before targeted. They were untargeted before. And i think everybody thought before. And i think everybody thought that was not a particularly good system, so it needed particularly good system, so it needed to be targeted. Obviously those most in need will continue to get the payment. All of those on pension payment. All of those on Pension Credit will get the payment, and we want to get as many payment, and we want to get as many people on to Pension Credit many people on to Pension Credit as many people on to Pension Credit as We Can. Many people on to Pension Credit as We Can. Henry, the unions are credit as We Can. Henry, the unions are meeting credit as We Can. Henry, the unions are meeting this credit as We Can. Henry, the l unions are meeting this week with the tuc and we have heard from sharon graham, The General secretary of the unite union, criticising this decision, calling for a U Turn which i guess is not expected, how much sway and how damaging is it to have unite voicing that criticism, given they are no longer so closely a nine with the Labour Party anyway . You are riaht the Labour Party anyway . You are right that the Labour Party anyway . You are right that unite the Labour Party anyway . 7m. Are right that unite very much come from the left wing of british politics, But also even union politics, and that is also true for the other Trade Union which has voiced severe dissatisfaction with this, the pcs union, the public sector union. However, itappears pcs union, the public sector union. However, it appears that over this Trades Union Congress conference, other unions, unions which have previously been a bit more supportive of Keir Starmer� s leadership, unions like unison, the gmb, they also are not going to want to be associated with this decision that Keir Starmer has made, and that again was the message that you heard earlier today when paul novak, The General secretary of the tuc, spoke to us. We General Secretary of the tuc, spoke to ve General Secretary of the tuc, spoke to us. We are going to be debatin spoke to us. We are going to be debating that spoke to us. We are going to be debating that issue spoke to us. We are going to be debating that issue this spoke to us. We are going to be debating that issue this week i debating that issue this week at congress, i think it is very likely at congress, i think it is very likely our at congress, i think it is very likely our unions will ask the chancellor to rethink that decision around the winter allowance. I think the chancellor, the whole of the government and indeed everyone down government and indeed everyone down here at the Tuc Congress this week, will want to make sure this week, will want to make sure that this week, will want to make sure that Pensioners are not in a position sure that Pensioners are not in a position where they cannot put on a position where they cannot put on the heating this winter. We wilt put on the heating this winter. We will debate that this week. Ithink we will debate that this week. I think it we will debate that this week. I think it is right that the chancellor should rethink those Plans Chancellor should rethink those plans and think about the Summ Plans and think about the support which she puts in place for Pensioners. For Pensioners. Henry, is there any other for Pensioners. Henry, is there any other mitigation for Pensioners. Henry, is there any other mitigation that for Pensioners. Henry, is there any other mitigation that the i any other mitigation that the government could now put in . It government could now put in . If you had asked me that an hour ago, i would you had asked me that an hour ago, iwould have you had asked me that an hour ago, i would have said, you had asked me that an hour ago, iwould have said, it sounds like there is, a Home Office Minister Diana Johnson went on Bbc Breakfast and suggested the government was looking at a social back for Energy Bills, basically a way of having cheaper Energy Bills for those who might be struggling with the cost of them, especially after this Winter Fuel allowance cut. But shortly afterwards government sources started messaging me saying, no, actually, she didnt me mean that, she misspoke. That is awkward for the government on the morning of the start of a very delicate couple of days of negotiations, among themselves, over how to proceed, before they even get to the question of persuading The General public. I to the question of persuading The General public. To the question of persuading The General public. I am oined by dennis i The General public. I am oined by dennis reid, The General public. I am oined by dennis reid, directorh The General public. I am joined by dennis reid, director of by dennis reid, director of silver voices, which campaigns on behalf of Pensioners and senior citizens. You will know, and staff arejoining us, that Keir Starmer said yesterday in the interview with the bbc that actually, the rise in what Pensioners get because of the Triple Lock here will more than cover the loss for anything that they lose with these Fuel Duty cuts . That they lose with these Fuel Duty cuts . Well, yes, But the Trile Duty cuts . Well, yes, But the triple Lock Duty cuts . Well, yes, But the Triple Lock is Duty Cuts . Well, yes, But the Triple Lock is supposed Duty Cuts . Well, yes, But the Triple Lock is supposed to Triple Lock is supposed to cover inflation generally, not just energy prices, and in any event, the rise that he is talking about does not come in until next april so that does not help us with this winter at all. I think the government has picked an unnecessary battle here with older people, and both the right and left of politics seem united against it. So i think they are going to have to rethink at some stage, even if they get the regulation through tomorrow. Keir starmer also said, speaking yesterday, that Pensioners obviously rely on public services, transport and crucially the nhs, and money needs to be found for those things, and that is why the government is having to make tough decisions . Government is having to make tough decisions . Well, the only tou~h tough decisions . Well, the only tough decision tough decisions . Well, the only tough decision really tough decisions . Well, the only tough decision really that tough decisions . Well, the only tough decision really that has. Tough decision really that has been taken so far as far as i can see is to hammer older people. Where are all the other people. Where are all the other people who are being hammered . There isnt, in fact. The only people that are down to actually lose incoming the moment are older people. Nobody else is actually being taxed more or anything else. So i think Pensioners have been picked out because it seems a soft target, and labour is using it basically to discipline, i think, using it basically to discipline, ithink, in using it basically to discipline, i think, in the vote tomorrow. I5 discipline, ithink, in the vote tomorrow. Discipline, ithink, in the vote tomorrow. Is that not artl , vote tomorrow. Is that not partly, because vote tomorrow. Is that not partly, because we vote tomorrow. Is that not partly, because we have. Vote tomorrow. Is that not i partly, because we have not vote tomorrow. Is that not partly, because we have not had a budget yet, that may be The End of october and we do not know what tax changes there could be at that point . Could be at that point . Yes, But why would could be at that point . Yes, But why would they could be at that point . Yes, But why would they pick But why would they pick Pensioners out a couple of weeks after taking office, thats what i would ask. Why did they not wait until the budget . Why did they not do a proper Impact Assessment on how it is going to affect older people this winter . It is going to affect older people this winter . [30 it is going to affect older people this winter . Do you think this people this winter . Do you think this should people this winter . Do you think this should be people this winter . Do you think this should be a think this should be a universal benefit, as it was, or do you think there is a case for somehow means testing it maybe in a different way, because there are Pensioners who dont need this allowance . Well, this is the only argument that the government have got, mickjagger i heard mentioned this morning, why does he need to do winterfuel this morning, why does he need to do Winter Fuel payments . Well, he does not really need it, But millions are going to suffer because mickjagger is going to have his £300 taken away from him as an over 18 year old. So, this is a distraction, really. On means testing generally, yes, we do support a universal payment, But in order to help to get the government off the hook, silver voices suggesting that a Cut Off Point Government off the hook, silver voices suggesting that a should be raised to the level of the higher rate of tax, so, instead of this very low Cut Off point, at £218 a week, which the government is proposing, we actually raise it so that all of those older people on modest incomes with small occupational pensions are protected this winter. Hats . Small occupational pensions are protected this winter. How much concern are protected this winter. How much concern are you protected this winter. How much concern are you hearing protected this winter. How much concern are you hearing from concern are you hearing from your members on this . filth. Concern are you hearing from your members on this . 0h, huge concern and your members on this . 0h, huge concern and worries. Your members on this . 0h, huge concern and worries. We your members on this . 0h, huge concern and worries. We already| concern and worries. We already have members, last winter, with the full Energy Support that they got, who could only hit a couple of rooms in their homes, who could only have a Shallow Bath once a week because they could not afford to heat the water. Couldnt use their ovens anymore for a Roast Dinner or anything like that because it cost too much. And i think these politicians need to get a dose of reality about what it is like to be continually watching the Metre Tick over and worry what they can do and what they cant do. It is a really worrying situation. Pope francis has arrived in timor leste for the latest part of the longest tour of his papacy so far. Its the first papal visit to the predominantly catholic country since its independence from indonesia in 2002. Church officials say they expect 700,000 people to attend a huge outdoor mass near the capital. Lets speak to our correspondent katy watson. Katie, just explain for us why there is such a huge catholic population there, and what level of excitement is there today . Level of excitement is there toda . , level of excitement is there toda . ,. , � , today . Katy. Thats right. Timorleste today . Katy. Thats right. Timor leste is today . Katy. Thats right. Timorleste is actually today . Katy. Thats right. Timorleste is actually the l timor leste is actually the most catholic country outside of the vatican, 98 of people identify as catholics. And on tuesday, there will be this huge open air mass, around 700,000 people, expected to be there, that is about half of there, that is about half of the population of timor leste. So, it is seen as a really significant visit of the first since independence. The catholic church was seen as a very important, playing a very important role in the path to independence. Now, timor leste became independent of portugal in 1975, But then indonesia invaded, occupied the country for 2h years. The pope is expected to discuss issues of poverty, it has got a really high poverty rate, unemployment there is a very young population, and this is a who cares very much about these issues, it is the first papal visit since 1989, when they played a very important part in pushing for independence. But there are some sticky issues as well. Although the catholic church is held in very high look, there has been a sexual abuse scandal, with one of the top members of the catholic church in timor leste, and who is also a very prominent man when it came to independence, so there is a real push from campaigners to be able to address these issues. It is not clear whether the pope will indeed address some of these very difficult topics for the church. �. , very difficult topics for the church. ,. ,. , church. Around the world and across the church. Around the world and across the uk, church. Around the world and across the uk, this church. Around the world and across the uk, this is church. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc across the uk, this is Bbc News. Thousands of prisoners are expected to be released early from tomorrow in efforts to Ease Overcrowding But its prompted fears of more homelessness and reoffending. . The government said it has inherited a Justice System in crisis and must alleviate the pressure on jails But there are concerns that those released wont be able to find accommodation. Iamjoined by i am joined by an author and former governor at wormwood scrubs prison. Thank you for joining us. What do you make of this early Release Programme that we are seeing . That we are seeing . Good morning that we are seeing . Good morning it that we are seeing . Good morning. It is that we are seeing . Good morning. It is not that we are seeing . Good morning. It is not ideal, l that we are seeing . Good l morning. It is not ideal, by any stretch of the imagination, the early Release Programme, But the issue is, if we have a Prison System that grinds to a halt, then there is the risk of a whole breakdown of the whole Justice System, from the courts, from the police come from the Prison System. Government really has no choice in this, But they are not without come back on it, i think. I expect that everybody is waiting for the first prisoner released on this scheme to commit some sort of crime, which will hit the headlines all over the place. When youre releasing such great numbers of prisoners, we are looking at roundabout 2000 tomorrow, there is bound to be one that falls by the wayside at least. The issue is that hopefully all of them have been suitably risk assessed, all of them have stringent licence conditions, which could be curfews, it could be not going to certain areas, not contacting victims, to stay away from drugs, alcohol Et Cetera. And anyone of those broken, and they will be right back inside. So, the situation is not ideal, by any stretch of the imagination, But the ignoring of our Prison System by successive governments has led us to this point. find by successive governments has led us to this point. Led us to this point. And how bad is the led us to this point. And how bad is the overcrowding, led us to this point. And howl bad is the overcrowding, your experience . Bad is the overcrowding, your exoerience . Experience . Oh, it is ust dreadful. I experience . Oh, it is ust dreadful. Ii experience . Oh, it is ust dreadful. I actually H Experience . Oh, It Isjust. Dreadful. I actually watched experience . Oh, It Isjust dreadful. I actually watched a Bbc News report from pentonville prison, and i look at it with horror, at the lack of discipline, the prisoners literally running the wings, staffed really unsure, not knowing what to do. When youve got cells that are designed for one person and they then have three, maybe two, three men locked up, for long periods, it causes frustration, it causes angen causes frustration, it causes anger, and then when those prisoners are eventually unlocked, violence spills over. And i think our whole system is in crisis. In crisis. Pennetta freight carriage. In crisis. Pennetta freight carriage. We in crisis. Pennetta freight carriage, we will in crisis. Pennetta freight carriage, we will have in crisis. Pennetta freight carriage, we will have to | in crisis. Pennetta freight carriage, we will have to leave it there But thank you very much indeed, we will be covering this issue much more in the coming days. Vanessa frake harris. Paralympic has come to a close. The Paris Paralympics are over, 11 days of competition ended with a spectacular Closing Ceremony in the stade de france, celebrating the more than 4000 athletes who took part in 22 different spots, although some of them having to wear ponchos thanks to the french weather. There was also a celebration of parisian nightlife, with 24 different artists from the electronic Music Scene performing. But in The End, the night was really for the athletes. Amongst the medals on the final day of competition, the final day of competition, the netherlands beat the united states to retain their title in the womens wheelchair basketball. A nigerian athlete won gold in the womens over 86 kilograms powerlifting, they were record. And the final Gold Medal went to iran, in the mens over 107 kilograms powerlifting. And this is how the final Medal Table ended. China, streets ahead of anyone else, on 220 medals, of which 94 were gold. Great britain were second with 49 Gold Medals, and the united states came in third. The hosts, france, came eighth, their best performance in 20 years, and the french Sports Minister not only hailed the Sporting Achievement But also highlighted the impact the games had had on french society. Translation . ,. , translation the quality of the Exerience Translation the quality of the Experience And Translation the quality of the experience and public translation the quality of the experience and public Transport L Experience and public transport at experience and public transport Et Cetera experience and public transport Et Cetera means that now when people Et Cetera means that now when people with disabilities get into a people with disabilities get into a taxi or a restaurant, the into a taxi or a restaurant, the perception and the welcome of each the perception and the welcome of each person will no longer be the of each person will no longer be the same. So, that is the Paralympic Revolution we are talking Paralympic Revolution we are talking about. Its a social revolution. Talking about. Its a social revolution. , �. , revolution. Great britain came second in revolution. Great britain came second in the revolution. Great britain came second in the medals revolution. Great britain came second in the Medals Table i revolution. Great Britain Camel second in the Medals Table and king charles posted this message on Social Media congratulating the Paralympic Congratulating the pa ralympic athletes congratulating the paralympic athletes of great britain and Northern Ireland and indeed the commonwealth. He said, your example has succeeded in inspiring, encouraging and lifting the hearts of all. Great britains Charlotte Henshaw was among those to win gold on the final day, in the para canoeing. It gold on the final day, in the para canoeing. Para canoeing. It means everything, para canoeing. It means everything, it para canoeing. It means everything, it is para canoeing. It means everything, it is what. Para canoeing. It means everything, it is what i L Para canoeing. It means everything, it is what i dream about when i was a kid and i got to be somebody� s Gold Medal when i was ten years old and i thought i would like to win one of those one day, and i achieved that dream in tokyo, But to win the double here is beyond what i could imagine, it is what i hoped for in those dark mornings in the winter, But to have it come to fruition is very special and i am very grateful to everybody that has helped me get to this point. The paralympics like has now been handed over to los angeles, who will host next Summer Games in 2028. Much more on the website on all our top stories, including the latest on politics here in the uk, and that really distressing report from afghanistan, from our team there. This is Bbc News, i am gue to groomer two, we are back in a few minutes, thanks for being with us. Low pressure and early warmth in september have brought Flooding Rains to some areas this weekend, a months worth in some parts of the west midlands on sunday, which is only slowly easing eastwards through the remainder of the night. The heaviest rain and thunderstorms will be easing away But there will be misty, low Cloud And Hill fog with this Weather System in the. Further to the west, the skies start to clear and it will be more chilly. And in Northern Ireland in particular. In these areas it was chillier on sunday as well. Still warm and muggy in the south with a lot of murky weather first thing on monday, quite grey and damp on the weatherfront monday, quite grey and damp on the Weather Front initially. But compared with sunday, for wales and North West England and for the South West of england it is a much drier picture, east of scotland as well, But the Rain Rolls back into the West Of Scotland later, and this cloud, murky, low cloud could just hang on in East Anglia and the South East for much of the day. Where we see the sunshine, 17 18, But considerably down, and temperatures are lower anyway in the north now. The rain rushes eastwards on Monday Night on a developing low pressure, which has got a sting in its tail by the time we get to tuesday. A fresher night in the south despite quite a bit of cloud and breeze, and it wont feel as close. But this Weather System will slowly meander southwards and then behind it we open the door to this north westerly airflow which will mean that it will be feeling chilly in the midweek, which we will notice, particularly in the middle of the week when the wind is our strongest, lots of showers around. By The End of the week we could have a touch of Grass Frost in the north. But that is The End of the week. However, from midweek onwards, the showers coming in thick and fast to scotland could be a bit wintry over the top of the monroes. A windier day for all of us, gales possibly in the north and the east and it is here where the rain hangs around and it could give some significant rainfall across the likes of Orkney And Sheffield as well on tuesday and into wednesday. Shetland. Temperatures tempered by the strength of the wind, particularly so on wednesday. It looks as if southern areas may see a ridge of high Pressure Building towards The End of the week. We will firm up end of the week. We will firm up on the details as the time goes on. This text in, starmer is right, my parents 79 and 80 have long said they shouldnt get the Fuel Allowance as they are lucky enough not to need it. The government should raise the threshold for those 1 Million people just above it and ensure those in need have done i will get it. Helen in milton keynes. I sent this to the Labour Party, a lifelong labour voter, as well as my parents and grandparents before me, id encourage the elderly to vote labour at the last election. I do not regret voting. This is unacceptable, this particular policy. That is what we are talking about. Should the prime Minister Split domestic with plan a. He said he was willing to be unpopular two months on end for many people he has certainly cracked that one. Lets see what you think about this. We will go to some calls and some texts. We will hear what you think. We are asking whether starmer is right on Winter Fuel. Whether starmer is right on winterfuel. Eat in Winter Fuel. Eat in southampton,