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| January 12, 2003 | Sunday | Ziqa'ad 8, 1423 |
Cold kills 7 children in refugee camps
BAJAUR, Jan 11: Freezing cold weather has killed seven children in three different Afghan refugee camps in Bajaur Agency during the last couple of days, eye witnesses said.
The death cases of refugee children have been reported from Kotaki, Chahermang and Ber Khalzo camps situated along Afghan border.
Reports said the cold weather caused diseases among displaced people. Children were more affected than other population.
An official of a relief agency confirmed the casualty reports, saying that the cold weather was the principal cause of severe pneumonia and chest infection that had claimed many lives in the camps.
Many refugees said the camps, established by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) about one year back, lacked health care facilities and the basic health units did not have proper treatment facilities.
An inmate of the Chahermang camp complained that people received very small quantity of food from the relief agencies as the refugees sold food package in the local market to purchase kerosene and fire wood to protect their children from harsh weather.—Correspondent
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