Severe Winter Storms Endanger Afghan Children

(MENAFN) Persistent freezing conditions combined with intense snowfall have placed around 270,000 children in Afghanistan at a "serious" risk of developing life-threatening diseases, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) cautioned on Thursday.

In an official statement, the UN body explained that the heavy snow has aggravated an already fragile situation for youngsters impacted by last year’s earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as harsh winter temperatures compound an increasingly grave humanitarian emergency.

The agency noted that extended exposure to cold and moisture has heightened the likelihood of respiratory illnesses, hypothermia, and other avoidable health conditions.

According to the statement, children residing in makeshift camps are especially vulnerable to rainfall, snow accumulation, and inadequate sanitation, which further intensifies health dangers.

UNICEF also revealed that the United Kingdom has contributed £8 million (approximately $10.8 million) to support efforts aimed at improving child nutrition across Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, severe weather over the past two days has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, while three others sustained injuries, as heavy snow and rain battered several regions.

The extreme climatic conditions have disrupted daily life in parts of eastern Parwan, Wardak, southern Kandahar, northern Jawzjan, Faryab, and central Bamiyan.

Officials from the local meteorological authority have predicted that rainfall and snowfall are likely to persist in large areas of the country over the coming days.

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