Left out in the cold

Published January 2, 2013
An Afghan child smiles as his mother receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. Over a third of Afghans are living in abject poverty, as those in power are more concerned about addressing their vested interests rather than the basic needs of the population, a UN report said. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan child smiles as his mother receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. Over a third of Afghans are living in abject poverty, as those in power are more concerned about addressing their vested interests rather than the basic needs of the population, a UN report said. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan girl walks as she receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. Over a third of Afghans are living in abject poverty, as those in power are more concerned about addressing their vested interests rather than the basic needs of the population, a UN report said. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan girl walks as she receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. Over a third of Afghans are living in abject poverty, as those in power are more concerned about addressing their vested interests rather than the basic needs of the population, a UN report said. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women with their children line-up to get winter supplies in Kabul. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women with their children line-up to get winter supplies in Kabul. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women line up to receive winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women line up to receive winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan child stands outside her tent after she receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan child stands outside her tent after she receives winter supplies in Kabul on January 1, 2013. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women and men wait to get winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo
Afghan women and men wait to get winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan woman leaves after receiving winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo
An Afghan woman leaves after receiving winter supplies at a UNHCR distribution centre for needy refugees at the Women's Garden in Kabul on January 2, 2013. ? AFP Photo

Hundreds of families living in makeshift shelters around the Afghan capital Kabul collected blankets, charcoal and other supplies on January 2 as authorities struggle to avoid last year's deadly winter toll.

With temperatures dropping to -10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) at night in the city, the 35,000 refugees who live in the 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 has co-ordinated efforts to avoid repeat fatalities.  — Photos and Text by AFP

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