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An extended spell of extreme cold, combined with heavy snowfall, has put around 270,000 children in Afghanistan at serious risk of life-threatening illnesses, according to a warning issued by the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
UNICEF said the worsening winter conditions are piling further pressure on an already fragile humanitarian situation across the country.
UNICEF explained that prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures and damp living conditions is driving up the risk of respiratory infections, hypothermia, and other preventable diseases among children.
These dangers are particularly acute for families who are unable to heat their shelters adequately or access proper healthcare during winter.
The situation has been especially difficult for children still affected by last year’s earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, where many families continue to live in makeshift or damaged housing. As winter deepens, the agency said the cold weather has been closing in on these communities and worsening their vulnerability.
Children living in temporary settlements were described as being among the most exposed, as such sites often fail to shield residents from rain and snow and typically lack adequate sanitation.
UNICEF noted that these conditions further heighten the likelihood of illness spreading quickly, particularly among younger children with weaker immune systems.
Against this backdrop, UNICEF announced new support from the United Kingdom, which has donated £8 million, or about $10.8 million, to help tackle child malnutrition in Afghanistan.
The funding is expected to back nutrition programs at a time when harsh weather is cutting off access to food and essential services in many areas.
Meanwhile, local authorities reported that at least 11 people have been killed and three others injured over the past two days as heavy snowfall and rain lashed multiple provinces.
The extreme weather has affected areas including Parwan and Wardak in the east, Kandahar in the south, Jawzjan and Faryab in the north, and Bamiyan in central Afghanistan.
The country’s meteorological department has forecast that precipitation will continue across much of Afghanistan in the coming days, raising concerns that the humanitarian and health challenges facing children and families could deepen further.
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