Afghan refugees face a deadly winter
2013-01-02 16:28
Kabul - Hundreds of families living in makeshift shelters
around the Afghan capital collected blankets, charcoal and other supplies on
Wednesday as authorities struggle to avoid a repeat of last winter's deaths.
With temperatures dropping to -10°C at night in Kabul, the 35 000
refugees who live in snow-covered camps face a battle to survive dire
conditions protected only by plastic sheeting.
Despite Afghanistan receiving billions of dollars of aid
since 2001, more than 100 children died last year during the harshest winter in
two decades, and the UN refugee agency UNHCR has co-ordinated efforts to reduce
repeat fatalities.
"Last year was the worst, and the weather is again
turning bad," Sayed Ullah, 40, said as he lined up for a large package
containing tarpaulins, cooking oil fortified with vitamins and warm clothing
for adults and children.
"I live in some ruins with my wife and four
children, and we don't have any heat or enough food," said Ullah, who was
maimed in a mine explosion several years ago that left him missing several
fingers.
"We fled to Kabul from Logar province due to the
violence and I have no income except for just a bit of labouring work. We need
help to get through the winter."
UNHCR said it had funded and organised distribution of
aid to more than 32 000 "internally displaced" families across the
country since November and that 240 000 Afghans would receive winter assistance
through its scheme.
At least two deaths from the cold have already been
confirmed this year, a 3-year-old and a new-born infant in the Charahi Qambar
refugee camp in the west of Kabul.
Last year's death toll sparked anger over the
government's failure to protect people, even in Kabul.
Relief
Emergency relief was eventually shipped into the camps by
the US military, international groups and charities.
"Poverty, conflict and lack of development are longstanding
problems which leave many people vulnerable," said Douglas DiSalvo, a
UNHCR official at the distribution centre.
"We can provide assistance but people still live
without proper hygiene, sanitation and protection from the weather and that
must be tackled.
"We have been working with the government and others
intensively to prepare for the worse winter period, which may still lie
ahead."
The government on Wednesday said it was working to
prevent winter deaths among camp residents in response to widespread criticism
last year.
"Close monitoring and additional resources will be
needed throughout the winter," Jamaher Anwary, minister for refugees, told
reporters.
Kabul officials want the 55 camps in the city to be
cleared and refugees to return to their home provinces, but many say it is too
dangerous due to the Taliban insurgency against the US-backed government.
The UNHCR called for refugees to be spared the threat of
eviction by providing them with adequate shelter in Kabul or elsewhere.
