The State Ministry for Disaster Management said on Monday that the recent snowstorms and extreme cold have created many problems for the people, and in particular, it has restricted their movements due to the closure of roads.

The ministry said that at least 126 people have died in 24 provinces of the country due to hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning.

“More than 50 houses have been destroyed,” said Shafiullah Rahimi, a spokesman for the ministry.

“All highways in the country are open to traffic except the Kabul-Jalalabad Highway,” said Hamidullah Misbah, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works.

Kabul residents welcome the snow but a number of them said the cold wave has created challenges for those who lack the ability to heat their homes.

“We collect plastics and papers and burn them for heating our home. We are not able to buy fuel,” said Wasim, a Kabul resident.

Officials have said that the recent cold wave has been unprecedented in the past two decades in Afghanistan. The temperatures have dropped to minus 18 to 34 degrees Celsius in the past three weeks.