7 drug addicts freeze to death in Ghazni, thousands rescued

GHAZNI (Pajhwok): Seven drug addicts have died of severe cold recently and a number of others transferred to warm places and hospitals for treatment in southern Ghazni province, an official said on Sunday.

Ghazni mayor Haji Abdul Razaq Ziai told Pajhwok Afghan News that municipality workers had collected the dead bodies of seven addicts from different areas of the city in the last two weeks.

He said some drug addicts who were exposed to cold had been sent to hospitals for treatment. He said the dead did not include women or children.

Dr. Abdul Basir, in charge of addiction treatment centers in Ghazni, told Pajhwok that a drug addict who suffered from hypothermia was brought to the centre for treatment three nights ago, but he died half an hour later.

Maulvi Gul Ahmad, narcotics control director at Ghazni Police Headquarters, also confirmed seven drug addicts had died of cold weather, but said 2,800 drug addicts had been taken to warmer places. He said police collected these people from different areas of the city, a process still ongoing.

Addicts who have been taken to warn places by police and are being treated, said they were happy with the government’s move.

One of them Khiyal Mohammad said he was happy to be brought to the treatment center, otherwide he would have died of freezing temperature.  He added that he had decided to quit consuming drugs anymore.

Another addict Khyber said: “I will give up drugs. I want to live a healthy and happy life and worship Allah.”

At least 300 drugs addicts are currently being treated in six drug addiction treatment centers in Ghazni city and districts.

A severe cold wave has gripped the country for the last two weeks, with the mercury in some provinces plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius. The cold snap has so far killed dozens of people and tens of thousands of cattle.

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