More than 40,000 children under the age of five have been hospitalized over the past few weeks in Afghanistan, ravaged by a cold snap that has already left nearly 90 people dead across the country.
The balance sheet of the Ministry of Health, collected by the Afghan news agency Pajhwok, shows a total of 88 deaths and about 10,000 children under five hospitalized every week in Afghan hospitals, mostly for respiratory problems.
There are also reports of at least six deaths and 120 people affected by gas leaks from household heaters in the country’s homes, according to the Ministry’s spokesman, Sharafat Zaman.
The Ministry of Disaster Management has reported that food aid has been distributed to at least 5,000 families affected by the sudden drop in temperatures, which has caused heavy snowfall and blocked roads in several states in central and northern Afghanistan.
In fact, in recent days, the Afghan capital, Kabul, has recorded disruptions in the water and electricity supply system. The Afghan Chamber of Industries and Mines has warned that services for customers are not active even for an hour.
The new cold snap has blocked access points to the most remote areas of Afghanistan, where medicines and food are already in short supply. Winter crops have been severely damaged, especially vegetables, further aggravating the food crisis.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
