Harsh winter kills over 750 in Afghanistan
Sunday, 10 February 2008
KABUL, Feb 9 (Reuters): More than 750 people have perished as a result of severe cold and heavy snowfalls this winter across Afghanistan, a government official said Saturday.
The cold spell, the worst in decades in the impoverished and mountainous central Asian country, has also killed nearly 230,000 cattle, said Noor Padshah Kohistani of the National Disaster Management Commission.
"Across the country, 763 people have died since the start of the winter due to cold weather and severe snowfalls," he told the news agency. The snowfalls have destroyed more than 500 houses and damaged more than 40,000, a disaster commission statement said.
The worst affected areas were the western provinces of Herat and Badghis where many people had to have amputations because of frostbite, according to the state media.
The cold spell, the worst in decades in the impoverished and mountainous central Asian country, has also killed nearly 230,000 cattle, said Noor Padshah Kohistani of the National Disaster Management Commission.
"Across the country, 763 people have died since the start of the winter due to cold weather and severe snowfalls," he told the news agency. The snowfalls have destroyed more than 500 houses and damaged more than 40,000, a disaster commission statement said.
The worst affected areas were the western provinces of Herat and Badghis where many people had to have amputations because of frostbite, according to the state media.