Presidential Palace, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is deeply concerned by the occurrence of deaths, especially among children, caused by cold weather in different provinces of Afghanistan.

At the order of the President, a commission has been established to provide assistance to vulnerable communities in various parts of the country. The commission includes the ministries of Health, Rural Rehabilitation and Development, the Interior, Defense, Public Works, Urban Development, Refugees, the Department for National Security, and Kabul Municipality, with cooperation from the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development.

The commission is tasked to provide emergency response and assistance to the people most affected by the cold spell, and take preventive measures for the effects of the cold weather on people's health. The President remains constantly updated on the work of the commission.