Kabul-January 24, 2023

Taliban officials said 124 people

At least they have died in extremely cold temperatures in Afghanistan, over the past two weeks.

A spokesman for the state Ministry of Disaster Management said that about 70 thousand heads of cattle also died in the coldest winter in 10 years.

Several aid agencies have suspended operations in recent weeks, after the Taliban banned Afghan women from working for NGOs.

A Taliban minister said that despite the deaths, the decree would not change.

Acting minister of Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund told the BBC that many areas in Afghanistan are now completely isolated due to snow. Military helicopters were sent to the rescue, but they could not land in the most mountainous areas.

He added that the forecast for the next ten days indicates rising temperatures. But he was still worried about the high death toll.

"Most of the people who lost their lives due to the cold were shepherds or people living in rural areas," said Mullah Akhund. They had no access to healthcare,"he said.

"We are worried about those who still live in the mountainous areas. Most of the roads passing through the mountains were closed due to snow. Cars got stuck there, and passengers died in low temperatures,"he said.

It's always a harsh winter here in Afghanistan, but this is the worst weather in a decade.

The Taliban government's decree last month banning Afghan women from working for aid agencies has hampered relief operations this year.

But Mullah Akhund was categorical that this decree could not be lifted, and he insisted that the international community should accept what he called the "Islamic culture" in Afghanistan.

He told the BBC: "men are already working with us in the rescue effort and there is no need for women to work with us. Men from every family are already participating in the relief efforts, so there is no need for women,"he said.

Relief officials, as well as UN officials, are urgently trying to find ways to overcome this ban.