Brutal Afghan winter could cost more children's lives

Following reports that at least 28 children living in camps near Kabul have already died because of freezing temperatures, we are warning that even more could children could die from cold in what is Afghanistan's worst winter for 15 years.

Most of the deaths were reported to have been children aged under five - the most vulnerable in such extreme weather. Kabul has been badly affected by the freezing conditions, along with northern and central provinces in Afghanistan since last month.

Temperatures in the central Bamyan province have fallen to -20 to -25°C during the night in Yakawlang, Panjab and Waras districts

Here many children are already severely weakened by malnutrition because of a major food crisis caused by drought and high food prices.

Brutal winter

Bob Grabman, our country director in Afghanistan, said: "This has been a brutal winter and children have little to protect them from the biting cold. Many are trying to survive without decent shelter or blankets, without fuel, food, warm clothes or shoes.

At night the temperature falls dangerously low, threatening the lives of newborns and small children.  It’s crucial we get urgent help to families so children are protected.

"Children are dying because they are already so weakened by malnutrition, and the cold makes them even more vulnerable to fatal diseases such as pneumonia.”

Food crisis

Many children in the north of the country are already struggling to survive on just bread and tea because of a major food crisis that is affecting three million people, one million of them children.

Their parents are no longer able to afford enough food to feed their families, as crops have failed due to poor rains and the price of wheat has increased by nearly 60%.

Our response

To date, Save the Children has reached 2,763 families living in Kabul's informal camps, through the distribution of 2,763 tarpaulins, 28,732 hats, 1,419 blankets.

In Bamyan district we've distributed 300 quilts to cold-affected people and also provided quilts, pillows and mattresses to 639 affected families in Yakawlang district. 

But we continue to need more funds to continue our life-saving work in Afghanistan both in response to the cold and the on-going food crisis.

Please donate what you can to our emergency fund