Cold, sick, hungry, displaced: Afghans face a disastrous winter

Cold, sick, hungry, displaced: Afghans face a disastrous winter

Conflict and economic collapse, coupled with the worst drought in 27 years and the Covid-19 pandemic, have brought Afghanistan to a tipping point. With 3.5 million people displaced from their homes and bitter temperatures expected to drop below -15C in places, the situation looks bleak.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), said: “Afghanistan is in freefall. People are starving.

“Food shortages and skyrocketing prices mean that people are selling everything they have just to buy basic supplies.