A number of residents of Paktika province's Gayan, Barmal and Ziruk districts live in caves to survive the cold weather.

35 people, including women and children, have died as a result of the cold in these districts in less than two months, according to information provided by local officials of the province.

"We lost 35 people in December: men, women, and children, with nine of them being children,” said Mujib Rahman, a doctor in the medical center of Gayan district.

"It's freezing, and I'm trying to find something to create a fire,” Keramatullah, who lives in a tent with his family, told TOLOnews.

Earlier, earthquakes in the province resulted in the deaths of many of these families who were enduring the cold; but now the cold is affecting them. Families are currently experiencing trouble because of the cold.

Asma, who lost all her family members except her brother in the earthquake in Gayan district, is now in a bad condition.

"All the members of her family have lost their lives. The weather is cold and she is living in this tent,” Sharif Khan, Asma's brother, told TOLOnews.

One of the most critical demands of the people living in the Gayan district of the Paktika province is access to healthcare. In an unfinished structure, doctors offer medical care.

Paktika's Gayan district has had earthquakes, and according to doctors this has caused many of the area's residents to suffer mental illness.

Some people in the earthquake-affected districts have complaints about how help is distributed by relief agencies. The process of providing relief has been affected by the absence of regular communication channels between Gayan and Sharan districts.

"If there is a patient at home, a car to travel to another district costs between 7,000 and 8,000. We cannot afford it,” said Nawab Khan, a resident of Gayan district.

"We came from Gayan district and we are going to Argun district. It takes three hours,” said Sarfraz, another resident.

These residents claim that many humanitarian organizations have suspended help since women have been prohibited from working in non-governmental organizations.

It is expected that some assistance organizations in the Gayan district will build earthquake victims' homes to withstand natural disasters, although locals say that this has not yet been done.

The representatives of the relief committee in the Gayan area confirm the difficulties faced by the residents and ask the Islamic Emirate and assistance agencies to assist the residents of these areas.

First, 1,000 people were reported as killed or injured as a result of the earthquake in the districts of Gayan, Barmal, and Ziruk districts. However, a recent official document received by TOLOnews shows that more than 400 people were killed in these regions as a result of the earthquake that occurred last summer and were buried in a massive grave.

According to official statistics, the earthquake this past summer in Paktika and Khost provinces completely damaged more than 7,800 homes, of which 6,000 are in the Gayan district.