2023 Afghanistan cold snap

A cold snap began in Afghanistan on January 10, 2023. Temperatures reached as low as −33 °C (−27 °F) and snowfall was as high as 30 centimetres (12 in) in more mountainous regions. The cold snap killed at least 160 people, making it the deadliest weather event of 2023 until Cyclone Freddy. Additionally, nearly 80,000 livestock were killed.[1]

2023 Afghanistan cold snap
Satellite imagery of Afghanistan on January 28
TypeCold snap
FormedJanuary 10
DissipatedJanuary 17
Lowest temperature−33 °C (−27 °F)
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		30 centimetres (12 in)
Fatalities166
Nearly 80,000 livestock
Areas affectedAfghanistan

Impact

Temperatures fell to a low of −33 °C (−27 °F),[2] with up to 30 centimetres (12 in) of snow in the higher mountain altitudes,[3] directly or indirectly killing at least 162 people in various provinces.[1] At least 140 people using gas for heating were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning in Herat Province.[4] Over 77,000 livestock died due to the weather.[5][6] Over 50 houses were damaged across the country.[7]

Relief

The cold came while Afghanistan was experiencing a famine that affected more than half of the Afghan population. The country had become a pariah state following the 2021 Taliban offensive and the reestablishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, leading to limited foreign aid.[2]

Humanitarian relief efforts provided aid that included heating and relief funds.[6] Foreign relief efforts were complicated by a ban on women providing humanitarian aid. These restrictions were relaxed for health-related aid on January 17, so non-governmental organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, and Care International resumed operations.[2][8] Supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada stated that the restrictions would not be repealed.[9]

Military helicopters were used to provide relief for citizens cut off by snow, but they were unable to access Afghanistan's mountainous regions.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Afghanistan cold snap kills over 160, Taliban officials say – DW – 01/28/2023". DW. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. "Dozens of people killed as cold wave sweeps Afghanistan". Al Jazeera. 18 January 2023.
  3. "Afghanistan: Adverse weather forecast across southern and south-central regions Jan. 18". Crisis24. 17 January 2023.
  4. "Afghanistan - Cold wave (DG ECHO, UN, AMD, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 20 January 2023)". ReliefWeb. 20 January 2023.
  5. "'The Coldest In Recent Years': At Least 70 Killed By Cold Snap In Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe. 18 January 2023.
  6. Popalzai, Ehsan; Magramo, Kathleen (20 January 2023). "At least 78 people die as winter temperatures plunge in Afghanistan, Taliban says". CNN. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  7. "Cold wave kills over 100 in Afghanistan". ThePrint. 23 January 2023.
  8. "NGOs resume some Afghan operations with women workers". Al Jazeera. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  9. Doucet, Lyse (24 January 2023). "Afghanistan: Freezing weather kills at least 124 people". BBC. Kabul.
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