Snowfall is perceived a blessing in countries like Afghanistan where if there is no rain and snowfall, there will be severe draught. At times of draught, people pray for rain and snow. Nevertheless, for Afghans living in camps and remote districts of the country, heavy snowfalls that they witness almost every year mean a great trouble. Such people keep waiting for help, but when no one gives an ear to their plight, they become disappointed.  

Amnesty International reported on Monday, 21 January that at least 17 people, including 11 children, have died mostly from the cold in Afghanistan’s displacement settlements in early this month. The deaths occurred in camps and settlements in Kabul and Herat provinces. “These deaths were a preventable tragedy that unfortunately shows the inadequate co-ordination of winter assistance to hundreds of thousands of people living in displacement camps across the country,” said Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s Deputy Asia-Pacific Director.

Last winter more than 100 people, mostly children, died in displacement camps as a result of the severely cold weather while scores of people lost their lives across the country.   

According to reports the government of Afghanistan has not provided help of any kind to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and people who get trapped due heavy snowfalls in remote districts of provinces like Daikundi, Bamiyan, Ghawr and Badakhshan. People are in need of food, fuel and clothing.

With the billions of dollars aid poured in Afghanistan in the last ten years, our government could have built working strategies for managing emergency conditions and disasters. It could also help people overcome the harsh winter. But due to rampant corruption, all the international aids have gone futile. Even the foods, clothing and other necessities procured for needy families to help them survive during the winters are distribute only to people with good contacts and recommendations or simply sold off in open markets by corruption government officials.

With so many life-threatening problems people face due to snowfalls, the government is not paying any serious attention. The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Directorate has been inefficient, inactive and symbolic. Same is the case with other concerned ministries. It is time for the Afghan government and the international community to wake up and help families who are vulnerable due to winter and prevent further loss of lives.