Many people have had fingers, toes or limbs amputated because of frostbite [EPA]

The conditions, which are particularly bad in the provinces of Heart and Badghis, have also resulted in 100 people having their fingers or toes amputated due to frostbite since mid-December, doctors said.
 
"The victims of frostbite are increasing every day and most of them have to have their fingers or toes amputated," Barakatullah Mohammadi, a doctor at a hospital in Heart, said.

"The victims are men, women and children, some of them are in a critical condition."
 
Many of those affected are shepherds left stranded after a blizzard left the western province covered in snow.
 
"All of my animals died. Both my legs were amputated," Ghulam Rasul, 35, said from his hospital bed.
 
"I was in the snow for two nights, then someone came and rescued me and took me home."
 
Surrounded by snow
 
Ahmad Sadiq, 18, whose uncle died in the storm, said: "I was surrounded by snow for two days, and I couldn't find my way back."

Temperatures have dropped to minus 30 degrees Celsius during the period.
 
Supplies have also been running short as roads are blocked by heavy snowfall, causing fuel and food prices to rise.
 
Aid groups and foreign troops have distributed blankets, clothing, food and fuel across the country, including remote, mountainous villages.
 
In January, the World Food Programme appealed for additional food assistance for 2.55 million Afghans until the harvest next June.

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