IOM is distributing non-food winter kits including blankets,
sweaters and shawls to some 2,500 internally displaced families in
three camps in Herat province, in response to some of the harshest
winter weather in decades.

"Because of the heavy snow falls and temperatures as low as
minus 28 degrees Celsius, a lot of people are really struggling for
life here. We have reports that at least 329 people have died from
the cold," said Serena Di Matteo, Head of IOM's Herat Sub-Office,
who is organizing the distribution through the provincial
government.

"Many of these people live in incredibly poor structures with
practically no protection from the cold and have almost nothing.
They even make use of the sacks and rope packaging the winter
kits," she notes.

IOM has already distributed half of a United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) donation of 1,600 blankets and
2,000 winter clothing packages in Maslakh – Herat's biggest
camp for internally displaced people. The Italian Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Herat has donated 700 kits to IOM for
its further distribution, out of which 400 has been earmarked for
IDPs.

IOM, which is working in close coordination with the Afghan
government, NGOs, UNAMA and various United Nations agencies
including the World Food Programme, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children's Fund,
plans to start distribution in two other Herat camps –
Shaidai and Minaret – shortly. It will also extend the
distribution into neighbouring Farah province, which has been
equally hard hit by the freezing weather.

For further information, please contact:

Katsui Kaya

Tel +93 (0) 700 185 961

E-mail: "mailto:kkaya@iom.int">kkaya@iom.int