At least three children died from exposure to freezing temperatures on Friday evening in the Raghistan district of northeastern Badakhshan province, local Taliban officials reported.
Hekmatullah Mohammadi, the Taliban’s head of information and culture in Badakhshan, said the children were stranded in heavy snowfall while traveling from their home in Nawabad village to the nearby village of Calar. The victims, aged 9 to 12, succumbed to the severe conditions, he added.
The tragedy highlights the toll of recent harsh weather across Afghanistan. Heavy snowfall and rain have blanketed many areas, including Badakhshan, exacerbating already challenging conditions in remote regions.
The Taliban-run meteorological department had earlier issued warnings of heavy precipitation and flash floods across 24 of the country’s 34 provinces.
Afghanistan, identified by the United Nations as the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change, faces worsening weather extremes, compounding a humanitarian crisis. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 24 million Afghans are expected to require humanitarian aid in 2024.
Badakhshan, an isolated and mountainous province, remains particularly vulnerable. Many of its residents lack access to basic infrastructure, including reliable transportation and roadways, leaving communities stranded during severe weather events.
