At least 124 people have been killed in Afghanistan in the past two weeks due to freezing temperatures. The BBC reports that the coldest winter in a decade has killed about 70,000 cattle.

Many aid agencies have suspended operations in recent weeks after the Taliban banned Afghan women from working for nongovernmental organizations.

Acting Minister of Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund said many parts of Afghanistan are now completely cut off by snow. Military helicopters were sent to help, but they were unable to land in the mountainous areas.

He said the forecast for the next 10 days indicated warming. But he remained concerned about the rising death toll.