Sixteen children have died this past month at the Nasaji Bagrami in Kabul Afghanistan camp. This winter has been hitting the camps with full force. Hundreds of refugees are living in tents made out of thin materials that aren’t equipped to prevent that cold from seeping in.
Most recently, 3-month-old Kahn Mohammad died from exposure to the extreme temperatures. He was the eighth of nine children to die in the Mohammad family. His father Sayid Mohammad used the last bit of paper his daughter Feroza had gathered to build a fire to keep the family warm.
“Finally, we started a fire, but it wasn’t enough” Mohammad said.
Several organizations from both Afghanistan and the United States have been sending aid to the refugees. John Bradley is in charge of the Lamia Afghan Foundation that is located in the U.S.
“People are writing from all over the country wanting to send their winter clothing and baby sweaters to us,” said Bradley.
Charitable American groups like Bradley’s have been flooded by citizens looking to help the refugees. Citizens have begun sending in massive amounts of blankets and warm clothing from all across the country. These donations are being boxed up and shipped to Afghanistan via military transports.
Local organizations and philanthropists have also been working to try and offer some relief to the suffering of their people. Large quantities of charcoal, milk and hot water bottles have been delivered by various local aid groups.
Ramazan Bashardost, a member of parliament, came to the Nasaji Bagrami camp out handed out 1,000 Afghans.
“It is not a life for a human, it is a life for animals,” said Bashardost.
The horrible conditions and bitter cold are continuously claiming lives of both old and young with the only sure relief being a change a season.
Aid for the Afghani refugees is coming in from all over the world. However, it is not sufficient nor is it arriving soon enough. The death toll continues to rise.
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