Afghanistan is hit by a cold wave that claims dozens of lives

On a chilly winter day, kids walk beside a road carrying buckets to retrieve drinking water.

The Ministry of Disaster Management of Afghanistan revealed to Al Jazeera that at least 70 people and tens of thousands of cattle have perished due to frigid temperatures across the country as Afghans struggle with a cold spell and a humanitarian crisis.

According to the ministry, 70,000 animals and 70 people perished in the previous week.

For the previous two weeks, Afghanistan has had abnormally cold weather, with the central district of Ghor recording the weekend's lowest temperature of -33C (-27F).

According to Mohammad Nasim Muradi, the head of Afghanistan's meteorology bureau, this winter was by far the coldest in recent memory.

We expect the cold wave to endure for at least another week, said Muradi.

On a chilly winter day in Afghanistan's Yaftali Sufla area, people play volleyball

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, extended his "deepest sympathy to the relatives and families" of the deceased.

"We are heartbroken to hear that a significant number of our compatriots have lost their lives owing to severe cold in several locations," Mujahid wrote on Twitter.

He said, "Relevant authorities and officials are directed to support the afflicted families as much as possible in order to prevent more casualties."

Near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman, snowfall causes some vehicles to become immobilised along a road

Social media posts include pictures and videos of snow-covered roadways in numerous provinces in the centre and north.

Since American-led forces departed from the country in August 2021, Afghanistan has experienced two winters under Taliban rule. More than half of the 38 million people living there are experiencing food shortages, and the nation is currently experiencing a humanitarian crisis. The situation has gotten worse as a result of western sanctions and the Taliban government's isolation abroad.

In response to a Taliban government decree forbidding women from working with humanitarian organisations, with the exception of the health sector, several NGOs currently operating in Afghanistan last month decided to halt their operations. Girls are not allowed to attend universities or schools, according to the Taliban.