A Problem That Kills People Like a Silent Killer / The Government, Popular Institutions, and the Media Are Responsible for the Fight Against the Winter Cold

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: As the cold and winter season approaches in Afghanistan, social experts in this week's "Construction Discourse, Examining Challenges and Providing Solutions" program, which is held every week by the Tebyan Social and Cultural Activities Center in Kabul, discussed the cold of winter, livelihood challenges, and meeting the heating needs of citizens on Thursday.

 

In this program, Ms. Latifeh Fazel, an expert on social issues, called the winter cold not only a deadly season for nature, but also said: "In this season, just as nature suffers, humans also face various challenges due to the lack of heating facilities."

 

According to her, low-income families are severely exposed to the winter cold during this season and struggle with a problem that claims human lives as a "silent killer."

 

She considered the lack of heating facilities a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the poor segments of society and called on charitable institutions, the media, and government officials to comprehensively support deprived and needy families during this season in the form of national solidarity.

 

Fazel considered the cold winter to be a major social crisis in the current situation and stated that its consequences, in addition to threatening physical health, create mental concerns and numerous restrictions for children and the elderly.

 

He emphasized public assistance and the activities of charitable organizations to help the needy alongside the government, adding that if all segments of society do not unite in the face of the cold winter crisis, the government alone may not be able to adequately address the existing challenges.

 

Fazel considered the establishment of relief teams as a practical method to strengthen social solidarity, collect and distribute aid to needy families, and said: "During the cold season, every member of society can meet the needs of needy families with minimal help, but in a public and shared manner."

 

Atefeh Sadat, another social issues expert, stated that the government can be effective in meeting the heating needs of deprived families with proper management and fair distribution, and said: "Arresting needy families during this season is also of fundamental importance to strengthen the foundations of the current system."

 

She added that if the country's leaders can help the needy during this season, the gap between the people and the government will be reduced even more.

 

Sadat considered the role of the media in reflecting the problems of the people and organizing aid from the government important, and emphasized that responsible institutions should attend roundtables, listen to the people's problems, and be accountable.

 

Referring to some difficult-to-access areas of the country, she emphasized the need to promptly open the roads to remote provinces and called on the responsible institutions to address these areas and prevent human incidents and financial losses during the cold season.

 

He considered one of the effective ways to address needy families to be a prior review and identification by people's representatives and lawyers from Kabul's districts, and said: "These reviews should begin a few months before the onset of cold weather and be carried out through a transparent and documented process for distributing aid."