Cold Weather Poses Severe Risk to Earthquake-Affected Children in Eastern Afghanistan

Save the Children has warned that children and families affected by the earthquakes five months ago in eastern Afghanistan are in a dire situation amid severe winter cold and heavy snowfall, with the lives of some at risk.

The organization stated on Tuesday, January 25, that nearly 5,700 families are still living in tents, which are only protected from snow, cold wind, and moisture by a single layer of plastic and do not meet basic winter needs.

According to Save the Children, the cold and damp conditions have made children seriously vulnerable to dangerous diseases, especially acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia, increasing the risk of death.

While urgent winter assistance is deemed vital for these families, aid organizations have repeatedly emphasized that the lack of effective planning and timely action by the Taliban administration has posed serious challenges to addressing the needs of those affected—a challenge whose direct impact on children’s lives is visible.