28 children die due to cold wave

KABUL): The death toll among children has reached 28 due to an ongoing cold wave that could become harsher in coming days, an international organisation said on Saturday.

In a report, Save the Children said Afghanistan experienced the coldest winter in 15 years, leading to increased child deaths. Almost 28 children have so far died in camps on the outskirts of Kabul. Inhabitants of the camps needed emergency aid.

The agency said it had started distributing winter assistance, including warm clothing, blankets and other items, in affected areas where relief activities would require more funds in the future.

According to the report, northern and central parts of the country were also in grip of the cold wave, which is expected to be followed by floods in summer.  

Bob Grabman, country director Save the Children for Afghanistan, said the Afghan minors had no facilities for protection from cold and a number of them lacked warm clothing, boots and proper food.

Ministry of Public Heath spokesman Ghulam Sakhi Kargar told Pajhwok Afghan News 40 children died over the past one month across the country, with 24 of the deaths occurring in Kabul alone.  He said mobile health teams had been dispatched to camps in the capital.

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