A large number of Afghan citizens particularly those living in poverty are concerning about the hardships they might face during the cold season of winter. In their interviews with The Kabul Times correspondent, they say they might face with increasing problems as they do not have enough food to eat and wood to keep them warm during the cold season of winter.
“Winter has already arrived as their children are suffering from the pneumonia and cold,” said Shahgul, a Kabul resident. She asked international welfare organizations to provide them with enough aids during the cold season of winter.
Currently, winter has already arrived in some provinces of Afghanistan, where a large number of people are facing poverty and shortage of food. A number of internally displaced people are still living in some parts of Kabul with no proper shelter. They are complaining that they do not have enough food and wood or coal for winter.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its recent report has asked the world countries to take urgent steps to send aids for the people of Afghanistan most of whom are facing with the humanitarian crisis.
“Afghan families face an impossible choice: To eat or to buy heat. And, really, they can’t afford either, resulting in a frightening rise in malnutrition and pneumonia cases,” Martin Schüepp, ICRC’s director of operations, said during his visit to Afghanistan this week. “Aid organizations can’t answer all the overwhelming cries for help. That’s why we’re urging states and development agencies to return to Afghanistan to continue providing support to the millions here in need.”
Despite a significant decrease in the intensity of the fighting, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains alarming. More than half the population (24 million people) need humanitarian assistance and half (20 million people) are acutely food insecure.
The deepening economic crisis further impacted by international sanctions and the economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine international armed conflict make it impossible for millions of Afghans to make ends meet. Wheat, cooking oil and fertilizer prices have risen. People lost income sources and used up their financial reserves. The agricultural sector has also been impacted by earthquakes, droughts and floods.
In its report, the ICRC says as winter sets in across Afghanistan and as the economic crisis worsens, the organization is seeing a spike in cases of child pneumonia and malnutrition.
“Dedicated and courageous female and male health staff do their best to save lives every day, but the international community must step up its support as humanitarian organizations cannot effectively replace a functioning public sector in the long term,” Mr Schüepp said.
According to ICRC, the poverty level in Afghanistan has increased compared to past years. Most people cannot buy materials to keep their homes and children warm. They also cannot afford to feed their children properly so pneumonia cases are rising, and the number of malnutrition cases linked to pneumonia will rise, too.
Although the Islamic Emirate is making continued efforts to do more to improve the living conditions of the people in Afghanistan, it is hoped that the IEA efforts address problems facing the people in terms of humanitarian crisis and health during the cold season of winter.
Shukria Kohistani
Afghan citizens concern over the hardships they face in winter
